Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2015 


https://archive.org/details/letterspapersofj00copl_0 


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Founded  1791 


COLLECTIONS 

VOL.  71 


Committee  of  Publication 

CHARLES  FRANCIS  ADAMS 
GUERNSEY  JONES 
WORTHINGTON  CHAUNCEY  FORD 


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LETTERS  & PAPERS 

OF 

John  Singleton  Copley 

AND 

Henry  Pelham 


1739-1776 


The  Massachusetts  Historical  Society 


i9H 


COPYRIGHT,  1914,  BY  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 
ALL  RIGHTS  RESERVED 


Published  November  IQ14 


Contents 


Illustrations xix 

Prefatory  Note xxi 

1739 

September  12.  Peter  Pelham,  Sr.  to  Peter  Pelham,  Jr 3 

Learns  of  his  marriage.  Feels  slighted  and  forsaken  by  his  children.  Is  not 
unforgiving.  Has  seen  Captain  Woodside.  Family  news  and  messages. 

1741 

July  4.  Peter  Pelham,  Sr.  to  Peter  Pelham,  Jr 6 

Has  written  more  than  once.  Peter  in  Carolina.  Lady  Deloraine.  Sister  Mes- 
senger unable  to  assist.  A box  not  shipped  as  intended  by  Helena.  His  own 
health  and  necessities. 

September  1.  Helena  Pelham  to  Peter  Pelham,  Jr 9 

Has  been  much  unsettled.  Family  intelligence.  The  overlooked  gifts.  Good 
accounts  of  young  Peter. 

1742 

February  19.  Peter  Pelham,  Sr.  to  William  Pelham 11 

Thanks  for  his  letter. 

February  19.  Helena  Pelham  to  Peter  Pelham,  Jr 12 

Gifts  sent  by  Rello.  Her  position. 

February  19.  Helena  Pelham  to  Penelope  Pelham 14 

Letter  with  gifts. 

October  12.  Peter  Pelham,  Sr.,  to  Peter  Pelham,  Jr 14 

Death  of  sister  Baker.  Peter’s  good  behavior  in  Carolina. 

1743 

July  20.  Peter  Pelham,  Sr.  to  Peter  Pelham,  Jr 16 

Letters  probably  intercepted.  Family  news  and  wishes. 

1748 

October  3.  Helena  Pelham  to  Peter  Pelham,  Jr 16 

Wishes  to  hear  often.  Messages. 


VI 


Contents 


1749 

November  30.  Peter  Pelham,  Sr.  to  Peter  Pelham,  Jr, 18 

Difficulty  of  writing.  His  residence  and  good  wishes. 

1750 

September  10.  Charles  Pelham  to  Peter  Pelham,  Jr.  19 

Is  at  Newport.  Some  matters  of  business. 

I7SS 

June  30.  Will  of  Peter  Pelham,  Sr 20 

1 7S7 

October  8.  Thomas  Ainslie  to  Copley 23 

Picture  gives  satisfaction.  Can  find  occupation  at  Halifax. 


I762 

February  15.  Helena  Pelham  to  Charles  Pelham 23 

Has  not  heard  from  him  for  a long  time.  Her  picture  considered.  Writing  not 
the  agreeablest  thing  for  her.  Burial  of  General  Whitmore. 

September  30.  Copley  to  Jean  Etienne  Liotard 26 

Wishes  to  obtain  some  Swiss  crayons.  Art  in  New  England. 


1763 

January  7.  Samuel  Fayerweather  to  Copley 27 

Judge  Leigh’s  picture. 

April  24.  Peter  Traille  to  Copley .28 

Directions  for  sending  picture. 

1764 

January  24.  Copley  to  Charles  Pelham 29 

Smallpox  in  the  town. 

November  12.  Thomas  Ainslie  to  Copley 30 


A child’s  recognition  of  portrait.  Offers  hospitality. 


1765 

January  25.  Copley  to  a Mezzotinter 31 

On  making  a print  of  Dr.  Sewall.  Proposals. 

February  25.  Copley  to  Thomas  Ainslie 32 


Will  not  be  able  to  visit  Quebec.  Love  for  his  art.  Human  and  Nature’s 
beauty. 


Contents 


vii 


March  7.  Peter  Traille  to  Copley 34 

Loss  of  crayon  drawings. 

March  25.  Bill  for  a Portrait 35 

September  10.  Copley  to  R.  G.  Bruce 35 

Sends  “Boy  with  the  Squirrel”  for  exhibition.  Disturbances  caused  by  the 
stamps. 

October  18.  J.  Powell  to  Copley 37 

Case  of  artists’  materials. 

1766 

April  28.  Peter  Pelham  to  Copley 37 

Parting.  Messages  to  family.  Situation  in  Barbados.  Prospects  for  a painter. 

August  4.  R.  G.  Bruce  to  Copley 41 

Opinions  of  West  and  Reynolds  on  picture.  Suggests  a visit  to  Europe.  F riend- 
liness  of  West. 

August  4.  Benjamin  West  to  Copley 43 

Criticism  and  praise  for  picture.  Advises  another  exhibition  piece.  Oil  painting 
superior. 

September  3.  Francis  M.  Newton  to  Copley 45 

His  election  to  the  Society  of  Artists  of  Great  Britain. 

September  5.  James  Scott  to  Copley 46 

Portrait  delivered.  Time  of  return. 

September  12.  Copley  to  Peter  Pelham 47 

On  invitation  to  Barbados.  Intends  to  visit  Europe.  Opinions  favorable  to  his 
picture. 

October  13.  Copley  to  Benjamin  West 49 

Appreciates  his  praise.  Wishes  a correspondence. 

November  12.  Copley  to  Benjamin  West 50 

Conscious  of  shortcomings.  Will  try  to  complete  something  for  next  exhibition. 
Difficulties  to  be  met.  As  to  visiting  Europe.  Painting  in  Italy.  A mezzotinto  of 
Sewall. 

1767 

June  11.  R.  G.  Bruce  to  Copley 52 

Arrival  of  the  portrait.  Opinions  of  West  and  Reynolds.  Suggestions  on 
method.  Messages. 

June  20.  Benjamin  West  to  Copley 56 

Demands  on  his  time.  Various  opinions  on  his  picture.  Mezzotinto  scrapers. 

June  25.  R.  G.  Bruce  to  Copley 58 

His  portrait  and  the  impression  made.  A more  pleasing  subject  wanted.  A 
visit  to  Europe. 


viii  Contents 


September  3.  George  Livius  to  Copley 60 

Copies  of  two  portraits  by  Kelberg. 

September  14.  George  Livius  to  Copley 61 

Prices  for  making  copies.  Sends  the  portraits.  Directions  and  a suggested 
alteration. 

November  23.  Copley  to  Francis  M.  Newton 63 

Acknowledging  notice  of  election  to  Society  of  Artists  of  Great  Britain. 

1767 

February  — . Copley  to  R.  G.  Bruce 64 

On  the  proposed  visit  to  Europe.  Wishes  his  counsel. 

February  — . Copley  to  R.  G.  Bruce 65 

Difficulties  in  finding  proper  subjects  of  picture.  Art  in  America  at  a low  mark. 

1768 

January  17.  Copley  to  Benjamin  West 66 

Sends  pieces  for  exhibition.  Want  of  advantages.  No  copy  to  be  permitted. 

His  visit  to  Europe.  Differences  in  pictures. 

January  17.  Copley  to  R.  G.  Bruce  69 

Has  sent  pictures  for  the  exhibition.  Rogers’  portrait. 

August  5.  Myles  Cooper  to  Copley 70 

Sends  money  and  properties  for  portrait.  Offers  to  buy  the  Nun  with  the 
Candle. 

. Copley  to  Myles  Cooper 71 

Properties  received.  Will  sell  Nun. 

September  20.  Benjamin  West  to  Copley 72 

Favors  his  visit  to  England.  Should  make  it  before  determining  where  to 
settle. 

October  24.  Myles  Cooper  to  Copley 73 

Directions  for  sending  pictures.  As  to  the  finish  of  the  portrait. 

1769 

January  9.  Myles  Cooper  to  Copley 74 

Wishes  pictures  and  gown  sent  to  him. 

January  31.  Edward  Holyoke  to  Copley 75 

Copy  of  the  portrait  of  Hollis  and  disposing  of  the  original. 

August  21.  Myles  Cooper  to  Copley - • • 75 

He  would  do  well  to  paint  in  New  York. 

September  24.  Copley  to  Myles  Cooper 76 

Cannot  come  to  New  York  at  this  time. 


Contents 


IX 


October  18.  G.  W.  Schilling  to  Copley 76 

Is  pleased  with  the  portrait. 

October  29.  John  Small  to  Copley 77 

Portraits  give  satisfaction.  Introduces  Mr.  Taylor.  Directions  for  changes  in 
copy. 

— ■ — . Eliot  to  Copley 79 

Harvard  College  will  not  part  with  the  Hollis  original. 

1770 

January  17.  Henry  Pelham  to  Charles  Pelham 79 

Advises  that  a letter  be  advertised.  Reported  death  of  John  Dickinson. 

January  27.  Charles  Pelham  to  Henry  Pelham 80 

The  letter  and  its  contents. 

March  23.  John  Greenwood  to  Copley 81 

Praises  his  exhibit.  Wishes  a portrait  of  his  mother.  His  own  activity  in  col- 
lecting pictures.  West’s  fine  compositions. 

March  29.  Henry  Pelham  to  Paul  Revere 83 

Charge  of  stealing  his  plate  of  the  Boston  massacre. 

March — . Receipt  for  Money 84 

March  — . Bill  for  Printing 84 

April  17.  John  Hurd  to  Copley 84 

Pictures  sent  for  repair.  Frames.  An  invitation. 

May  1.  Henry  Pelham  to  Charles  Pelham 85 

Failure  to  meet  Barnard. 

May  1.  Henry  Pelham  to  Charles  Pelham 86 

Barnard’s  account.  Newspaper  with  interesting  matter.  Tea  disturbances. 
Remonstrance  made  in  London. 

May  4.  John  Hurd  to  Copley 87 

Is  pleased  with  the  portraits.  Sends  exchange  on  London. 

May  4.  William  Johnston  to  Copley 88 

A coat  of  arms.  On  boiling  of  oil.  Asks  for  a miniature  of  his  sister.  Congratu- 
lations on  marriage. 

May  15.  John  Small  to  Copley 93 

Picture  received.  His  marriage.  His  visit  to  New  York.  Gage’s  portrait. 

September  21.  John  Wilkes  to  Nathaniel  Barber 95 

Has  received  portrait  of  Wilkes  Barber.  American  liberty. 

November  12.  Henry  Pelham  to  Charles  Pelham 96 

Sends  the  printed  laws.  Deaths  and  sickness.  A poem  by  Phyllis  Wheatley. 


X 


Contents 


November  24.  Copley  to  Benjamin  West 97 

Reasons  for  not  sending  something  for  exhibition.  Possible  subjects  in  Mrs. 
Greenwood  and  Wilkes  Barber.  Art  and  politics. 

December  4.  Charles  Pelham  to  Henry  Pelham 99 

Copley’s  daughter,  Elizabeth.  Family  of  Thomas  Pelham.  An  invitation  for 
Thanksgiving. 

December  17.  Copley  to  Charles  Willson  Peale  .......  100 

Praisesliis  mezzotinto  of  Pitt. 

. Circular  on  Peale’s  Pitt,  and  a Comment 101 

1771 

January  25.  Copley  to  John  Greenwood  . 105 

Portrait  of  his  mother.  Would  enjoy  an  opportunity  to  see  the  works  of  the 
masters. 

January  29.  Petition  on  Powder  House,  Boston 106 

March  28.  Charles  Pelham  to  Henry  Pelham 107 

Complaint  against  Betty  Pelham. 

March  29.  Henry  Pelham  to  Charles  Pelham no 

On  the  conduct  of  Betty  Pelham. 

April — . Stephen  Kemble  to  Copley 112 

His  visit  to  New  York  and  prices. 

. Copley  to  Stephen  Kemble 112 

Prices  for  portraits  and  sizes. 

April  17.  Stephen  Kemble  to  Copley 113 

Has -obtained  orders  for  portraits.  List  enclosed. 

June  6.  Henry  Pelham  to  Henry  and  Thomas  Bromfield  . . . .115 

An  order  for  artist’s  materials. 

June  16.  Benjamin  West  to  Copley 116 

Is  happy  to  learn  of  his  intention  to  visit  Europe.  Portrait  of  Mrs.  Greenwood. 

June  16.  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 116 

His  situation  in  New  York.  Some  features  of  the  place.  His  mare. 

June  18.  Benjamin  West  to  Shrimpton  Hutchinson 118 

On  taking  his  son  as  a student  in  painting.  Mechanical  side  of  art.  Recom- 
mends Copley. 

June  20.  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 120 

Is  hard  at  work.  Harmonside.  Family  messages. 

June  23.  Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 120 

Family  matters.  Birth  in  the  Pelham  family.  Sale  of  the  mare.  Otis  and  the 
law  suit.  Progress  on  his  house. 


Contents 


XI 


July  7.  Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 123 

Hears  he  was  invited  to  Philadelphia.  Powder  House  bill.  Lucy  and  the  Pep- 
perells.  Trouble  with  Mrs.  Dawson.  Green’s  lines  on  Checkley’s  portrait. 

July  11.  Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 126 

Family  items,  and  the  lawsuit. 

July  14.  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 127 

Manner  of  spending  his  time.  Has  many  visitors.  Social  pleasures.  Otis  and 
the  lawsuit.  Details  for  the  house. 

July  16.  Henry  Pelham  to  James  Putnam * 13 1 

The  lawsuit. 

July  24.  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 132 

Otis  and  the  suit.  Is  much  occupied. 

July  28.  Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 134 

Progress  on  the  house.  Fees  in  the  lawsuit.  Family  news.  Robinson’s  assault 
on  Otis. 

August  3.  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 136 

Has  many  commissions.  Piazza  defined.  Alterations  in  the  house. 

August  15.  Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 138 

Putnam  on  the  lawsuit.  Asks  for  definite  instructions. 

August  17.  Invoice  of  Merchandise 14° 

August  17.  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 141 

Directions  on  the  house. 

August  24.  Shrimpton  Hutchinson  to  Copley 143 

Incloses  West’s  letter.  Asks  his  advice. 

August  25.  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 144 

Is  disappointed  on  the  progress  of  the  lawsuit. 

August  25.  Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 145 

As  to  letter  writing.  The  house  and  its  finish.  Message  from  Snap.  Plan  of  the 
house.  Illness  of  Captain  Joy. 

September  2.  Henry  Pelham  to  Copley IS0 

Postponement  of  the  trial  of  the  suit.  The  health  of  Otis. 

September  9.  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 151 

Regrets  postponing  of  lawsuit.  The  house  and  its  occupation.  Money  obtain- 
able. 

September  10.  Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 154 

A box  of  frames.  The  lawsuit.  Suggestions  on  the  houses.  Trees  for  the  walk. 
Remonstrance  to  king  in  London.  Spriggs’  offer  of  trees. 

September  20.  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 159 

Directions  in  the  lawsuit.  The  house  and  trees. 


xii  Contents 


September  21.  Mrs.  Syme  to  Copley 161 

As  to  her  father’s  picture. 

September  24.  Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 161 

His  return  to  Boston.  Elevation  of  the  house.  Monies  to  be  received. 

September  29.  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 163 

A visit  to  Philadelphia.  Pictures  seen  in  that  place.  Van  Dyck’s  coloring. 

October  12.  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 165 

Money  on  demand,  if  needed. 

October  2.  Henry  Pelham  to  James  Putnam 167 

As  to  the  lawsuit. 

. Henry  Pelham  to  Miss  Barrett 167 

A return  for  her  portrait. 

October  17.  Copley  and  Susanna  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham  . . .168 

Desires  a gown  to  be  sent  on. 

October  22.  Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 169 

The  lawsuit  and  the  house.  Van  Dyck’s  visit  to  England.  Complaints  against 
Mrs.  Dawson.  Explosion  in  the  town.  Oil  wanted. 

November  6.  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 173 

Exchange  of  letters.  Portrait  of  Mrs.  Gage.  . Quincy  and  the  lawsuit.  The  piazza. 

November  24.  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham . 175 

As  to  the  fees  in  the  lawsuit. 

November  28.  Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 177 

The  Governor  and  the  Massachusetts  Spy.  Death  of  Sheaffe.  Visit  from  Lord 
William  Campbell. 

December  15.  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 179 

Sends  some  wild  laurel.  Has  finished  thirty-seven  busts.  Time  of  his  return. 

1772 

January  2.  John  Hancock  to  Copley 180 

Delay  in  sittings  for  portraits. 

January — . to  Montresor 180 

Lottery  tickets.  Livery  and  hats.  An  error  in  picture  frame . Praise  of  Copley’s 
painting.  Colonel  Montresor’s  American  lands.  Scandal  about  the  Queen  of 
Denmark. 

March  1.  Henry  Pelham  to  Miss  McIlvaine 183 

Friendly  letter.  Return  of  Copley  to  Boston.  The  lawsuit  won.  Hancock’s  lottery 
prize  and  contribution  towards  rebuilding  Dr.  Cooper’s  meeting-house. 

. Isaac  Smith,  Jr.,  to  Copley 185 

On  range  of  the  human  voice. 


Contents 


Xlll 


. James  Bowdoin  to  Copley 185 

Plans  for  church  too  expensive.  Record  of  the  committee  on  rebuilding. 

August  16.  William  Carson  to  Copley 187 

Commendation  of  Copley’s  work.  Suggests  a subject. 

September  14.  Mrs.  Mascarene  to  Henry  Pelham 189 

Miniature  of  her  father. 

December  20.  Jonathan  Clarke  to  Copley 190 


West  approves  his  plans  for  visiting  Europe.  Expenses  of  living  abroad.  Mrs. 


Copley  may  come  later. 

1773 

January  6.  Benjamin  West  to  Copley 194 

His  journey  and  studies  in  Italy.  Mrs.  Gage’s  portrait  pleased. 

March  — . Benjamin  Andrews  to  Henry  Pelham 197 

Wishes  his  portrait  to  be  finished. 

August  3.  Henry  Pelham  to  John  Singleton 198 

Renews  his  correspondence.  Copley  about  to  visit  Europe. 

September  9.  Henry  Pelham  to  Stephen  Hooper 199 

His  miniature  finished. 

September  19.  Stephen  Hooper  to  Henry  Pelham 200 

The  miniature  and  Copley’s  portrait  of  Mrs.  Hooper. 

November  5.  Henry  Pelham  to  Charles  Pelham 200 

Disturbances  in  Boston.  Proceedings  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty. 

November — . Thomas  Palmer  to  Copley 202 

Sends  letters  of  introduction. 

November  10.  Thomas  Palmer  to  James  Byers 204 

Introducing  Copley. 


November  — . Thomas  Palmer  to  Sir  William  Hamilton  ....  204 
Recommending  Copley  and  his  work. 

November  24.  Dr.  John  Morgan  to  Copley 205 

Sends  a few  letters  for  Italy.  Characterises  the  persons  to  whom  written.  Let- 
ters to  Rutherford,  Byers,  Abbe  Grant  and  Isaac  Jamineau. 

December  1.  Copley  to  Jonathan  and  Isaac  Winslow  Clarke  . .211 

Efforts  to  modify  action  of  the  meeting  on  tea.  Results  and  action  recom- 
mended. 

1774 

February  15.  Copley  to  Richard  Clarke 213 

On  a memorial  to  the  General  Court.  Newspaper  calumnies.  Colonel  Lee’s 
advice. 


XIV 


Contents 


January  27.  John  Singleton  to  Henry  Pelham 

Family  congratulations  and  happenings.  Marriages  of  his  daughters.  A cor- 
rupt Parliament  and  America. 

April  26.  Copley  to  Isaac  Clarke 

A hostile  visit  to  his  house  in  search  of  Watson. 

June  3.  Joseph  Webb  to  Henry  Pelham 

The  picture  and  payment. 

June  8.  Henry  Pelham  to  Helena  Pelham 

A letter  by  the  hands  of  Copley.  Family  greetings. 

June  9.  John  Small  to  Copley 

Sends  a letter  of  introduction  to  his  brother,  Alexander  Small. 

June  — . A Bill  for  Portraits 

July  9.  Copley  to  his  Wife 

Is  about  to  leave  for  London.  His  sea  experiences.  Anxiety  about  Boston. 
Family  messages.  A bill  of  exchange. 

July  II.  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

Manner  of  getting  to  London.  Has  seen  West  and  Reynolds.  Objects  of  inter- 
est. A companion  for  his  Italian  tour.  Advice  from  West.  Jonathan  Clarke’s  dis- 
tant residence. 

July  17.  Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 

Home  news.  Ill  conduct  of  Green.  Dispute  over  rents.  Offers  for  the  house. 
Difficulties  of  settling  with  Hancock.  Congress  of  the  Colonies.  Situation  in 
Boston  with  troops.  League  and  Covenant. 

August  5.  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

Plan  of  a fence.  Civilities  from  Lord  Gage,  West  and  Rook.  A dinner  with 
Governor  Hutchinson. 

August  15.  Nathaniel  Hatch  to  Henry  Pelham 

Asks  for  plan  of  Sewall  street. 

August  17.  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

Social  pleasures  of  London.  English  politeness.  Reynolds  and  Whitehall.  Sug- 
gestions on  painting.  Has  not  seen  Aunt  Singleton.  Advice  to  study  incessantly 
and  practise  continually. 

August  25.  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

Order  for  Hutchinson’s  portrait.  Is  about  to  leave  for  France. 

September  2.  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

Account  of  his  journey  in  France.  Rouen  and  comforts.  Meals  and  lodgings. 
Impressions  of  Paris.  Advice  on  painting.  A sketch  book.  The  study  of  rhe 
masters.  Poussin  and  his  methods. 

September  5.  Robert  Hooper  to  P.  Thomas 

Order  for  picture. 


215 

217 

219 

220 

221 

223 

223 

225 

228 

234 

235 
238 

242 

242 

247 


Contents 


XV 


September  7.  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 247 

The  church  of  Notre  Dame  and  College  for  Surgeons.  The  Luxemburg  gallery. 
Manner  of  Rubens’  painting.  His  color  scheme. 

September  8.  Copley  to  his  Mother 253 

His  passage  from  England.  The  buildings  of  Paris.  Manner  of  living  and  its 
cheapness.  His  delight  with  his  excursion. 

September  15.  Copley  to  his  Wife 256 

Will  be  in  England  next  summer.  No  dangers  in  travelling.  Journey  from 
Paris  to  Lyons.  River  voyaging.  Wishes  to  know  of  his  family. 

September  25.  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 261 


Dispatch  in  travelling.  Service  at  the  dining  places.  Avignon  and  Marseilles. 

The  languages. 

October  5.  Charles  Reak  and  Samuel  Okey  to  Henry  Pelham  . . 264 

Plans  for  mezzotintos. 


November  2.  Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 265 

Has  enjoyed  his  letters.  Is  at  Philadelphia  for  health.  Some  painting  commis- 
sions. Disturbances  in  Boston.  An  entire  stoppage  of  business.  Green’s  conduct. 
What  he  has  seen  in  New  York  and  Philadelphia.  Copley’s  fame. 

November  10.  Henry  Pelham  to  John  Singleton 269 

A family  letter. 

November  18.  Henry  Pelham  to  his  Mother 272 

Art  seen  in  Philadelphia.  Social  attentions  and  commissions. 

November  21.  Henry  Pelham  to  Charles  Startin 273 

Acknowledgments  of  pleasures  received.  Quiet  in  Boston.  The  Congress  and 
export  of  rice.  Newport  and  the  slave  trade.  Smallpox  among  the  troops. 

December  3.  Charles  Startin  to  Henry  Pelham 276 

Politics. 

December  4.  Henry  Pelham  to  John  Morgan 277 

Information  wanted  on  portrait  of  Angelica  Kauffmann.  Labelling  of  pictures. 

December  12.  Henry  Pelham  to  Charles  Startin 278 

Appreciation  of  courtesies.  Wishes  to  make  portrait  of  Richard  Clarke.  A 
sketch  for  a picture  frame. 

December  24.  Adam  Babcock  to  Henry  Pelham 281 

Proceedings  of  a town  meeting.  Tiles  and  wallpaper  wanted. 

December  27.  John  Morgan  to  Henry  Pelham 282 

History  of  the  portrait  of  Angelica  Kauffmann,  and  of  herself. 


177s 

January  27.  Henry  Pelham  to  Copley  . . 
Birth  of  a son.  The  baptism.  Politics  in  the  family. 


284 


XVI 


Contents 


January  31.  Henry  Pelham  to  Charles  Startin 287 

Portrait  of  Richard  Clarke.  A pamphlet  controversy. 

February  13.  Henry  Pelham  to  Benjamin  West 288 

Something  for  the  exhibition.  Praise  of  his  ability. 

February  16.  Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 289 

Boston  more  peaceable.  Account  of  his  journey  to  Philadelphia.  Experience  of 
a country  mob.  What  he  has  seen  in  New  York  and  Philadelphia. 

March  10.  Henry  Pelham  to  Charles  Rear  and  Samuel  Okey  . . 293 
Making  plates  from  portraits.  Suggests  one  of  Professor  Winthrop. 

March  14.  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 294 

Picture  of  the  Izards.  Manner  of  making  an  historical  composition.  Exam- 
ples and  experiments.  Compassion  for  Boston.  A study  of  Raphael  and  Titian. 
Colors  and  treatment. 

March  16.  Charles  Rear  and  Samuel  Orey  to  Henry  Pelham  . 308 
Plates  of  Samuel  Adams  and  John  Hancock.  One  of  Winthrop. 

April  3.  Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 310 

Enjoyment  of  his  letters.  Deaths  of  Mrs.  Oliver,  Chardon  and  Winslow. 
Quiet  in  Boston. 

April  7.  Joshua  Wentworth  to  Henry  Pelham 313 

Copley  and  his  portraits. 

May  3.  Henry  Pelham  to  Charles  Startin 313 

Wishes  letters  for  England.  Mrs.  Copley  about  to  sail.  Sally  Bromfield  and 
the  battle  of  Lexington.  Portrait  of  Richard  Clarke. 

May  4.  Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 3*6 

Hostility  to  Jones.  The  battle  of  Lexington  and  his  experiences. 

May  16.  Henry  Pelham  to  John  Singleton 318 

Disturbed  condition  of  Boston.  The  affair  at  Lexington  and  Concord.  Dis- 
tressed situation  of  the  town.  Thinks  of  going  to  Europe. 

May  16.  Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 3 22 

Disorder  and  distress  in  Boston.  The  Concord  expedition  and  its  conse- 
quences. Gage  fortifying  the  town.  Business  at  a standstill.  His  illness. 

June  5.  Henry  Pelham  to  Charles  Pelham 325 

Sailing  of  Mrs.  Copley.  His  mother  unwilling  to  leave  Boston. 

June  25.  Copley  to  his  Mother 32^ 

Anxiety  for  her  welfare.  Is  copying  a Correggio.  Ease  of  travel.  Some  of  the 
sights  of  Italy.  Izard  and  Boylston.  Thoughts  for  his  brother.  His  commissions. 

Has  heard  of  the  Lexington  affair. 

June  25.  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 333 

Further  study  of  Titian.  Conjecture  on  his  method  of  coloring.  Receipts  for 
varnishes.  Recommends  the  study  of  anatomy.  Painting  history  essential. 
Opinions  of  his  work. 


Contents  xvii 


July  15.  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 343 

Urges  him  not  to  take  up  arms,  even  if  ordered  to  do  so. 

July  23.  Henry  Pelham  to  Susanna  Copley 344 

The  siege  of  Boston  and  military  operations.  Battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  Affair  of 
Long  Island.  Family  news.  Is  making  a survey  of  Charlestown.  Appointment 
of  generals  by  the  Congress. 

August  6.  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 348 

Civil  war  in  America.  Result  will  be  independence.  Urges  his  mother  to  leave 
America. 

. Johnson  to  Henry  Pelham 350 

Draughts  of  the  enemy’s  works. 

August  19.  Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 350 

Reasons  for  not  sending  the  survey  of  Charlestown.  General  Howe’s  dinner. 
Political  considerations.  Departure  of  Judge  Sewall. 

August  22.  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 352 

Hopes  to  meet  him  on  arriving  in  England.  Results  of  his  tour.  His  copy  of 
Correggio.  Prospects  in  England.  Boston  not  capable  of  withstanding  a siege. 

August — . A Plan  of  Charlestown 356 

With  a dedication  to  Howe. 

September  18.  Mrs.  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 357 

Letters  from  Copley.  Distress  for  her  friends  in  Boston.  Expects  to  hear  of  his 
coming.  Social  relations  in  England.  Messages. 

October  10.  Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 360 

Distressing  circumstances  of  the  country.  Deaths  of  friends.  Disappointments. 

His  liking  for  Sarah  Bromfield.  Irregularity  of  letters. 

1776 

January  27.  Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 364 

Death  of  his  son,  Clarke  Copley.  Caution  as  to  letters.  Military  conditions  in 
and  around  Boston  unchanged.  His  mother.  Changes  in  the  country  and  city. 
Purchase  of  some  prints. 

February  — . Henry  Pelham  to  Henry  Bromfield,  Jr 369 

Wishes  a meeting  at  the  lines. 

February  25.  Henry  Bromfield,  Jr.  to  Henry  Pelham 370 

Reflections  on  the  changed  situation.  Accounts. 

. Henry  Caner  to  Copley 372 

A picture  attributed  to  Da  Vinci. 

. Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 373 

Portrait  of  Taylor. 


Index 


375 


. 


- 


/ 


Illustrations 


John  Singleton  Copley Frontispiece 

From  the  self-painted  portrait  in  the  New  York  Historical  Society. 

Peter  Pelham,  Jr.  5 

From  a portrait  by  Copley  in  the  possession  of  Charles  Pelham  Curtis. 

Receipt  of  Peter  Pelham,  Jr.,  1728 5 

Letter  of  Mary  (Copley)  Pelham 16 

The  original  was  in  the  possession  of  Denison  R.  Slade. 

Receipt  of  Copley,  1758 27 

“Boy  with  the  Squirrel”  (Henry  Pelham) 35 

From  the  painting  by  Copley  in  the  possession  of  Frederic  Amory. 

Receipt  of  Copley,  1769 78 

Letter  of  Charles  Pelham 80 

The  original  was  in  the  possession  of  Denison  R.  Slade. 

Circular  of  Charles  Willson  Peale’s  Picture  of  William  Pitt  . 102 
The  original  is  in  the  Library  of  Congress. 

John  Singleton  Copley 117 

From  a self-painted  miniature  in  the  possession  of  Henry  Copley  Greene. 

Plan  of  Copley’s  House  on  Mt.  Vernon 137 

From  his  own  sketch  in  the  Public  Record  Office,  London. 

Letter  of  Henry  Pelham 145 

The  original  is  in  the  Public  Record  Office,  London. 

Letter  of  Susanna  Copley 169 

The  original  was  in  the  possession  of  Denison  R.  Slade. 

Signature  of  Jonathan  Clarke 193 

The  original  was  in  the  possession  of  Denison  R.  Slade. 

Letter  of  Benjamin  West 195 

The  original  is  in  the  Adams  Papers. 

Tradesmen’s  Protest  against  the  Proceedings  of  the  Merchants, 

1773  203 

The  original  is  in  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society. 


XX 


Illustrations 


Signature  of  Isaac  W.  Clarke 21 1 

The  original  was  in  the  possession  of  Denison  R.  Slade. 

Letter  of  Richard  Clarke 213 

The  original  was  in  the  possession  of  Denison  R.  Slade. 

Copley’s  drawing  of  a Fence 232 

The  original  is  in  the  Public  Record  Office,  London. 

Elizabeth  and  John  Singleton  Copley,  Jr 271 

From  a sketch  by  Benjamin  West  in  the  possession  of  Lord  Aberdare.  d 

Signature  of  Sarah  Startin 277 

The  original  was  in  the  possession  of  Denison  R.  Slade. 

Richard  Clarke  279 

From  the  family  group  painted  by  Copley  in  the  possession  of  Copley  Amory. 

One  of  Copley’s  Children  [Mary?] 300 

From  a sketch  by  Benjamin  West  in  the  possession  of  Lord  Aberdare. 

The  Redoubt  on  Bunker  Hill 327 

From  Pelham’s  sketch  in  the  Public  Record  Office,  London. 

Permission  to  make  Plan  of  Boston 346 

From  Pelham’s  sketch  in  the  Public  Record  Office,  London. 

Letter  of  John  Singleton  Copley 348 

The  original  is  in  the  Public  Record  Office,  London. 

Power  of  Attorney,  1776 372 

The  original  was  in  the  possession  of  Denison  R.  Slade. 

Receipt  of  Copley,  1783 374 

The  original  is  in  the  Adams  Papers. 

Receipt  of  Gilbert  Stuart,  1800 374 

The  original  is  in  the  Adams  Papers. 


Prefatory  Note 


The  letters  and  documents  printed  in  this  volume  are  in  the  Public 
Record  Office,  London.1  They  appear  to  have  been  drawn  in  part  from 
the  Domestic  State  Papers,  but  no  note  shows  the  history  of  the  papers 
and  how  or  when  they  reached  the  Record  Office.  For  a long  period  of 
time  they  were  among  the  papers  intercepted  by  the  British  Government 
during  the  first  months  of  the  American  rebellion;  but  they  could  hardly 
have  actually  been  intercepted,  as  so  many  never  passed  through  the 
English  post-office  or  even  crossed  the  ocean.  Mr.  Paul  Leicester  Ford, 
to  whom  one  bundle  of  the  papers  was  known,  and  who  printed  a few  of 
the  papers  in  the  Atlantic  Monthly , lxxi.  499,  states,  but  without  giving 
his  authority,  that  Copley  and  Pelham  fell  under  the  suspicion  of  the 
Government.  “To  what  extent  suspicion  was  attached  to  them  it  is  now 
impossible  to  say;  but  it  certainly  went  so  far  as  to  lead  these  two  men  to 
turn  over  their  private  papers  to  the  government;  and  these,  instead  of 
being  returned,  drifted  into  this  great  depository  of  manuscripts.” 

Since  Mr.  Ford  wrote,  the  collection  has  been  much  increased  by  newly 
discovered  material,  and  in  a rearrangement  it  had  been  assorted  into 
four  bundles.  Three  of  those  were  discovered  quite  by  accident  by 
Professor  Guernsey  Jones,  of  the  University  of  Nebraska.  Becoming  in- 
terested, he  began  to  make  copies,  and  while  thus  engaged,  his  attention 
was  called  by  Professor  Charles  M.  Andrews,  whose  Guide  had  not  then 
been  printed,  to  a fourth  bundle,  containing  the  earliest  Pelham  letters. 
The  transcripts  and  the  notes  upon  them  2 were  offered  by  Professor 
Jones  to  this  Society  for  publication.  Of  the  collection  he  writes: 

“All  of  Pelham’s  letters  and  all  of  Copley’s,  except  those  to  Pelham  and 
his  mother  (and  the  one  to  his  wife  from  the  Chamberlain  Collection),  are 
in  the  form  of  rough  drafts,  sometimes  in  duplicate  or  even  in  triplicate 
with  slight  variations.  The  others  are  the  letters  actually  received,  with 

1 Designated  in  Andrews’s  Guide  as  C.  O.  5/38,  39.  The  arrangement  in  two  bundles 
was  made  at  the  suggestion  of  Professor  Jones. 

2 It  has  not  been  thought  necessary  to  locate  the  portraits  by  Copley  mentioned  in  these 
letters,  as  Mr.  Frank  W.  Bayley,  of  Boston,  is  preparing  an  exhaustive  list  of  Copley’s 
paintings. 


XXII 


Prefatory  Note 


trifling  exceptions,  which  may  be  readily  inferred  from  the  letters  them- 
selves. The  entire  correspondence  was  once  carefully  sorted  and  ar- 
ranged by  Pelham,  but  is  now  in  the  utmost  confusion.  The  less  import- 
ant letters,  together  with  Pelham’s  memoranda  and  household  bills,  are 
omitted  in  this  volume. 

“It  has  been  impossible  to  discover  how  these  private  letters  of  a 
provincial  family  came  to  be  incorporated  into  the  great  collection  of 
British  State  Papers.  When  Copley  started  on  his  Italian  tour  in  the 
summer  of  1774,  he  left  his  letters  and  papers  with  Pelham,  who  kept 
them  with  his  own.  In  less  than  two  years,  Pelham  in  turn  left  Boston  — 
a Tory  refugee  upon  the  British  evacuation  of  that  place.  He  presumably 
took  his  papers  with  him,  for  upon  one  of  the  wrappers  he  has  written, 
‘Letters  from  Mr.  Copley,  rec’d  at  Halifax.’  On  May  12,  1 776,  more  than 
eleven  hundred  New  England  refugees  embarked  at  Halifax  for  England. 
Among  them  was  Pelham  on  the  Brigantine  Unity , Captain  Hill.1  He 
reached  Dover  after  a short  passage  on  June  5. 2 What  happened  to  his 
papers  is  a matter  of  conjecture.  We  only  know  that,  fortunately  for  us, 
they  are  now  preserved  in  the  British  archives.” 

The  correspondence  concerns  Massachusetts  before  the  date  of  Inde- 
pendence, and  throws  valuable  light  upon  Copley  and  his  early  paintings. 
Mention  is  made  of  a number  of  his  portraits,  hitherto  unknown,  and  his 
impressions  of  the  work  of  other  painters  and  methods  of  painting  are 
detailed  in  his  letters  from  France  and  Italy.  The  papers  are  thus  both 
historical  and  technical. 

Professor  Jones  makes  acknowledgment  to  Lord  Aberdare,  the  Hon- 
orable Lady  Du  Cane,  and  the  officials  of  the  Public  Record  Office  for 
courtesies  received.  The  Society  adds  its  acknowledgment  for  assistance 
to  Mr.  Frederic  Amory,  Mr.  Charles  Pelham  Curtis,  Mr.  Henry  Copley 
Greene,  Mr.  Copley  Amory,  the  late  Mr.  Denison  R.  Slade,  and  the  New 
York  Historical  Society. 

Charles  Francis  Adams. 

Guernsey  Jones. 

Worthington  Chauncey  Ford. 

Boston,  September  15,  1914. 


1 C.  0.  5/93,  p.  333.  Pelham,  known  to  be  an  artist,  was  listed  as  a “reputable 
tradesman.”  See  Copley’s  objection  to  the  word  “trade”  as  applied  to  art  (p.  65,  infra). 

2 Morning  Post , June  8,  1776.  Governor  Hutchinson  heard  of  Pelham’s  arrival  on 
June  7.  Diary  and  Letters , n.  61. 


LETTERS  & PAPERS 


OF 

John  Singleton  Copley 

AND 


Henry  Pelham 


1739-1776 


The  Copley-Pelham  Letters 

1739-1776 

Peter  Pelham , Sr.  to  Peter  Pelham , Jr. 

I was  indeed  somthing  surpris : d on  the  6th  of  May  last  on 
the  Receiveing  a Letter  from  an  almost  an  unknown  Person 
which  Referd  me  to  Captain  woodside  for  a Pirtickuler  ac- 
count of  you  and  your  affairs,  who  gave  me  but  a short  and 
unsatisfactory  Relation  as  I found  in  your  Letter  which  was 
that  you  was  married  to  a second  wife  1 with  a Prospect  of  an 
Increase  of  your  famely  without  any  fortune  which  makes  me 
Concemd  at  your  being  too  near  Re[l]ated  to  me  by  being  forst 
to  labour  under  Deficultys  as  I my  self  am  and  have  been  many 
years;  but  of  all  afflictions  being  slighted  and  forsaken  by  my 
owne  flesh  and  Blood  gives  me  more  trouble  and  vexation  than 
all  other  Crosses  and  Disapointments ; but  as  their  is  a time  for 
all  things  and  when  are  at  a Crises  it  is  sure  that  a turne  is  to 
be  Expected,  and  as  it  is  my  nature  to  putt  the  best  Construc- 
tions in  most  things  Relating  to  my  self  from  my  Children, 
Espesialy  for  your  so  long  silence  and  neglect  of  me.  but  since 
you  make  me  beleive  you  are  sorry  for  what  is  Past  I Cannot  be 
of  that  stubom  and  unforgiveing  Disposition  as  not  to  Pardon 
and  wipe  of  all  Misdemeaners,  and  do  heartily  forgive  what 
Ever  has  been  amiss  in  you  on  my  account,  and  never  for  the 
future  I hope  shall  have  any  more  Cause  of  Complaint. 

I had  another  Letter  on  the  12th  of  June  last  Dated  April  the 
5th  by  Mr.  Hilhouse  who  Pleasd  me  by  saying  you  Lin : d very 
1 Margaret  Lowrey,  whom  he  married,  October  15,  1734. 


4 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


J739 


well  and  in  a handsome  manner  which  I am  heartily  Glad  of, 
I Prest  him  very  much  to  lett  me  know  where  he  Lodg’d  that 
I might  waite  on  him,  but  Could  not  Prevail,  so  have  not  seen 
him  since.  I was  at  Chelsea  to  see  Captain  woodside  once,  who 
was  att  his  fathers  house,  a Decenting  Minester  but  was  not 
at  home  at  that  time,  he  has  been  to  see  me  severall  times 
since,  but  the  last  time  he  was  with  me  is  above  two  months, 
and  what  is  become  of  him  I know  nott,  whether  in  England 
still  or  gone.  I am  but  latly  Recoverd  of  a feavor  since  then 
but  am  very  well  at  this  time;  your  sister  Messenger,  thank 
god,  is  very  well  and  shed  tears  of  Joy  at  my  haveing  a letter 
from  you,  and  sends  her  kind  Love  and  servis  to  you,  and  her 
sister  in  law,  and  Blessing  to  all  your  great  and  litle  ones,  your 
sister  heley  1 is  in  the  Country  and  was  very  well  when  the 
other  day  I had  a letter  from  her.  She  writt  to  you  some  time 
ago  but  haveing  no  answer  soposd  might  miscarry,  and  now 
once  more  my  Dear  son  since  the  Ice  is  Broake  Between  us,  I 
hope  for  a great  deale  of  Pleasure  by  Renewing  our  Corispond- 
ence,  and  shall  heartily  Prey  god  to  Bless  and  Prosper  you  in 
all  your  honest  undertakeing  has  been  my  Constant  and  Daly 
Prayers;  and  were  I in  any  Circumstance  of  shewing  my  love 
to  you  other  than  my  hearty  wishes  for  you,  you  should  soon 
find  how  sincearly  my  Dear  son  I am  Intirely  your  Most  Af- 
fectionate  father  P:  pELHAM- 


Pray  give  my  Blessing  and  servis  to  my  Daughter  in  law,  and 
I wish  all  health  and  happyness  to  attend  her  and  hers.  I was 
mightily  Pleas  :d  with  Charles  :s2  Prety  Letter  towhome  I send 

1 Helena. 

2 Charles  Pelham,  born  in  London,  and  baptized  at  St.  Paul’s,  December  9, 
1722,  became  a schoolmaster  at  Medford  and  elsewhere,  and  married  Mary 
Tyler,  niece  of  Sir  William  Peppered. 


0&/A 

/A/tyy  sofo^wut  / /nf  wofi/ey' 

’/ri//rfy>  ^to^aAJ'fktw,  sO^ yfol/wwn/  (&yytrJ 


1739 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


5 


my  Blessing  and  thankes  for  the  same  and  when  you  write  to 
Poor  Peter  1 my  Blessing  to  him  and  am  heartily  glad  he  is  like 
to  do  so  well,  your  sister  Messenger  gos  to  see  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Simons  some  times  but  I have  not  been  so  farr  this  half  year  for 
I very  seldom  go  abroad  so  have  not  seen  them  but  they  are 
very  well. 

Pray  Derect  your  next  to  me  att  the  Right  Honble  the  Lady 
Isabella  Scotts,  in  Grosvenor  Street,  Grosvenor  Square  London, 
my  Blessing  to  all  the  Rest  of  your  famely  and  God  Bless  you 

good  night 

[L]ondon,  September  the  I2th,  1739. 


[Addressed:]  To  Mr.  Pelham  att  his  house  att  Boston  in  New 
England.2 

, -7^ 

the 


REceivedOfMr.  YJ 

of  % being  the  firft  Payment 

of  the  Sublcription  . °of  the 

late  Rev.  Dr.  COttOtt  by  which 

the  Bearer  is  Entitled  to  the  faid 
Paying  <2  at  the  Delivery  of  the  lame, 

By  me 

RECEIPT  BY  PETER  PELHAM,  JR. 


1 The  brother  of  Charles,  born  in  England,  and  baptized  at  St.  Paul’s,  De- 
cember 17,  1721,  later  removed  to  South  Carolina,  and  thence  to  Virginia. 

2 In  February,  1738,  Pelham  occupied  a house  on  Summer  Street,  next  to 
that  of  Philip  Dumaresque,  and  taught  “ Dancing,  Writing,  Reading,  painting 
upon  Glass,  and  all  kinds  of  needle  work.”  Boston  Gazette , February  6,  1738. 


6 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1741 


Peter  Pelham , Sr.  to  Peter  Pelham , Jr. 

My  Dear  Son, 

I will  assure  you  that  I have  not  faild  answering  all  the  Let- 
ters I had  the  Joy  and  Pleasure  of  Receiveing  from  you  in  an- 
swer to  one  Dated  April  the  5th,  1739  and  Reed  June  12th,  An- 
swerd  September  12th  following:  another  I had  Dated  October 
30th,  Reed  November  26th,  1739,  and  likewise  Answerd  Feb- 
ruary 19th,  1739-40  so  that  I hope  my  Dear  Son  will  not  Imput 
any  thing  wanting  in  me  or  Neglect  in  gi vein g you  all  the  satis- 
faction you  so  Earnestly  Desire  in  hearing  from  me  as  I am  the 
same  of  you.  but  as  the  times  are  at  Present  it  Cannot  be  much 
wonderd  at  our  Letters  being  intercepted  when  it  is  so  haserdus 
for  all  English  ships  to  go  any  where  abroad,  who  are  very  fre- 
quently taken  by  the  Spaniards,  however  I have  the  Pleasure 
of  Receiveing  your  Last  Dated  March  14th  I had  the  1st  of  July 
by  the  Boston  Trader  who  says  [he]  is  to  Return  very  soon,  so 
[I]  would  not  lose  the  opertunit.y  of  Writeing  by  him.  tho  you 
Referd  me  to  the  Britania  Captaine  Fores,1  I have  venturd  to 
send  this  answer  by  the  same  hands  that  Brought  me  your  Let- 
ter. I am  heartily  Pleasd  to  hear,  by  Lady  D : Lorain  2 that 
Came  from  Charlestowne  in  Carolina  about  a year  ago,  that  my 
Grandson  Peter  was  a very  Genteel  Clever  young  man  being 
very  well  acquainted  with  him  by  teaching  Miss  Fenwick  her 
sister  to  play  on  the  Harpsicord  which  he  Performs  very  well. 

1 A Captain  Fones  cleared  from  Boston  to  London  before  March  17.  New 
England  Weekly  Journal , March  17,  1741. 

2 Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Fenwick,  of  South  Carolina,  married  Henry  Scott, 
a son  of  Henry  Scott,  Earl  of  Deioraine.  Captain  Scott  was  grandson  of  James 
Scott,  Duke  of  Monmouth,  and  Anne,  Duchess  of  Buccleugh.  Fenwick  re- 
moved to  England,  and  died  there  in  1747.  His  will  is  printed  in  South  Carolina 
Historical  and  Genealogical  Magazine , vii.  27. 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


7 


1741 


Lady  D:  Lorain  was  Married  to  Mr.  Scott  Captain  of  a man 
of  Warr  that  was  stationd  att  Carrolina  whose  Brother1  died  a 
litle  before  he  left  that  Contry  with  out  Children  so  he  Came 
to  the  title  and  he  died  that  very  night  he  Came  to  London,  so 
she  is  now  a widdow  has  one  son  about  four  years  old  now  Lord 
D : Loraine,  and  another  younger  with  her  father  and  mother 
in  Charlestowne.  I Pray  god  give  you  Comfort  and  happyness 
with  all  your  Children.  I am  heartily  Pleasd  at  the  Charicter 
you  give  of  Dear  Charles  and  I hope  he  will  Continue  to  be  a 
Blessing  to  you.  I hope  you  will  make  my  Blessing  and  kind 
affections  Acceptable  to  your  Dear  Spoues  and  I wish  all  health 
and  happyness  to  attend  you  all.  Dear  Son  as  to  your  Sister 
Messengers  sending  Cloaths  that  was  the  Dutchess  of  Mon- 
mouths,2 it  is  now  about  Nine  years  since  she  Died  and  Left  the 
Poorest  Wardrobe  that  Ever  Dutchess  did  that  had  twenty 
thousand  Pounds  a year,  and  those  Devided  amongst  three 
Women,  and  your  Poor  sister  has  been  out  of  Place  Ever  since, 
so  that  you  may  Imagin  she  Cannott  have  where  with  to  assist 
you.  and  your  sister  heley  is  as  much  Concernd.  she  has  not 
any  thing  worth  sending  at  Present  her  Lady  has  Lived  in  the 
Country  alltogather,  till  now  very  Lately  she  is  Come  to  towne, 
and  has  taken  a house  very  near  me,  which  will  give  me  oper- 
tunitys  to  see  her  oftener  than  I have  done  these  14  years,  your 
sister  heley  did  in  your  first  wives  time  gave  a Captain  of  a ship 
a litle  Box  with  a few  things  for  her,  which  he  Promist  to  deliver, 
who  gave  his  man  a great  Charge  to  Put  them  up  but  the  Cap- 
tain saild  and  his  man  forgott  the  Box  that  he  Put  in  the  Clos- 

1 Francis  Scott,  second  Earl  of  Deloraine. 

3 Charles  Mordaunt  (1658-^1735),  third  Earl  of  Peterborough,  took  the  title  of 
Duke  of  Monmouth  in  1689.  His  wife  was  Carey,  or  Carry,  daughter  of  Sir 
Alexander  Fraser,  of  Durris  in  Kincardineshire.  She  is  said  to  have  survived 
her  husband,  so  “about  nine  years  since”  may  be  an  error. 


8 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


174I 


sett,  so  she  never  had  another  opertunity  of  sending  it.  but  she 
hopes  in  some  time  to  have  some  little  matter  to  send  they 
both  Desires  their  Best  kindest  Love  and  Affections  and  kind 
Rispect  to  you  both  and  Blessing  to  all  the  Rest. 

I hope  my  Dear  son  will  Consider  my  near  Aproach  to  70  and 
Excuse  the  failing  of  my  Eyes  and  a shakeing  hand,  which  I 
fear  will  give  you  some  troble  to  Read.  I have  no  Ailment  on 
me  at  Present  but  a Thorough  Concern  I am  not  in  a Condition 
to  assist  my  Dear  Children  according  to  my  unfined  love  and 
affections  which  I Ever  bore  for  them.  I am  very  much  putt  to 
it  to  find  my  self  in  nesesarys  in  outward  apparrell,  for  which  I 
Cannot  free  my  self  from  Debt  theirfore  [am]  farr  from  assist- 
ing those  I have  so  much  att  heart  and  I Can  find  no  other 
Remedy  but  to  Consider  that  all  Events  are  from  god  and  as 
his  Providence  orders  all  things  according  to  his  will  and  Plea- 
sure, who  shall  say  why  is  it  so;  I fear  you  will  be  out  of  Pa- 
tiance  with  this  Dull  subject,  but  I beg  you  will  take  the  sin- 
cearity  of  my  good  meaning,  and  with  my  Blessing  to  you  your 
spoues  and  all  the  Litle  ones,  I will  give  you  now  no  further 
troble,  but  my  Desire  and  beg  I may  hear  from  you  as  soon  and 
as  offten  as  you  Can,  and  that  you  will  beleive  me  to  be  my 
Dear  Son  your  most  Intire  and  Ever  Most  Affectionate  father 

Peter  Pelham. 

London,  July  4th,  1741. 

I so  seldom  go  abroad  that  I have  nott  seen  Mr.  or  Mrs.  Si- 
mons above  these  twelve  months,  so  Can  give  no  account  of 
them  but  by  your  sisters  who  gos  to  see  them  some  times,  so 
god  bless  you. 

[Addressed:]  To  Mr.  Pelham  att  his  house  att  Boston  in 
New  England. 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


9 


1741 


Helena  Pelham  1 to  Peter  Pelham , Jr. 

Maby  my  Dear  Brother  will  be  a little  surprise!  at  haveing  a 
letter  from  me,  but  I do  asure  you  I have  greate  pleasure  in 
wrighting  to  you  and  in  hearing  of  your  wellfair.  but  I have 
not  allway  the  opportunity  for  some  times  I am  in  Irland  and 
sometimes  in  England,  and  have  been  settled  noware  tell  now, 
and  now  I hope  I am,  for  my  lady2  has  taken  a house  in  lon- 
don.  my  Dear  brother  I have  been  four  times  in  Irland,  and 
the  sickest  sole  all  ways  at  sea  that  ever  was.  I hope  to  god  I 
have  dun  going  to  sea  now.  I live  with  the  same  lady  that  I 
went  over  to.  o my  Dear  Brother  I long  to  see  you  but  I am 
sure  I never  shall,  since  you  are  marrid  a gaine  to  be  sure  you 
will  not  leave  that  place,  poor  mrs  Guy  is  verey  olde  and 
verey  poor,  wee  are  all  kind  to  her,  or  I dont  know  what  she 
would  have  dun.  she  desierd  when  I wrote,  her  blessing  to  the 
children  and  kind  love  to  you.  thanke  god  my  Dear  father  is 
verey  well  and  looks  most  charmingly,  my  sister  has  been  ill  a 
long  time  and  is  but  in  diferant.  now  boath  my  father  and  she 
desiers  to  be  kindley  remembert  to  you.  I must  tell  you  that  a 
long  time  a go  when  Patty  3 was  a live,  hear  was  some  gentleman 
in  town  who  came  from  ware  you  are  and  was  takeing  his  fam- 
iley  over  to  settle  thare.  I heard  this  at  mr  Simons  so  I de- 
sierd that  he  would  take  a small  parcel  and  a letter  to  you  from 
me  and  he  promisd  he  would.  So  I left  at  mr  Simons,  for  the 
gentle  man  would  send  thare  for  it,  a letter  and  a short  apron 
and  a fann  for  dear  Patty,  accordingley  the  gentle  man  sent  his 

1 She  was  living  in  Chichester,  England,  in  1774. 

2 Henrietta,  Lady  Conway,  daughter  of  Lord  Conway  and  Lady  Mary 
Hyde.  Edward  Solly  in  4 Notes  and  Queries , xn.  179. 

3 Martha,  Pelham’s  first  wife,  whom  he  married  in  England.  By  her  he 
had  three  sons,  Peter,  Charles  and  William. 


IO 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


1741 


man  for  them  and  had  them  and  be  holde  the  man  never  packd 
them  up  but  left  them  on  a shelf  in  his  masters  closet,  so  some 
days  after  I had  them  a gaine  which  I was  verey  sorey  for.  I 
now  in  tend  makeing  the  second  trial,  the  gentle  man  who 
brings  this  is  one  I have  some  little  knowledge  of.  he  lived  with 
a lady  and  gentle[man]  who  my  lady  made  a viset  to  in  the 
countrey,  wee  was  thare  six  weeks.  I heard  he  was  going  to 
leave  his  place  and  go  to  new  England,  so  I asked  the  favour 
of  him  to  carrey  a letter  for  me  to  you,  and  when  he  Calls  for 
my  letter  I will  aske  him  to  take  a little  parcel  for  me,  which  is 
a drest  cap  I send  your  little  girl,  who  you  say  is  a charming 
girl  and  her  name  Penelope.1  poor  thing,  I shall  never  see  her, 
nor  my  Dear  old  acquiantence  Petter  and  Charls,  who  I hope 
is  verey  well,  a lady  hear  told  my  father  she  knew  Petter,  for 
that  he  taught  her  sister  on  the  harpsycord  at  South  Carrolina, 
and  that  he  was  a verey  agreable  entertaining  young  man.  you 
may  be  sure  that  account  of  him  pleasd  my  father  as  well  as 
me.  I send  my  love  and  blessing  to  them  all.  I have  sent  your 
wife  a preasent  of  a fann  and  a short  apron,  with  my  service  and 
respects  to  her.  I am  glad  since  you  marrid  againe  you  have  so 
prudend  and  good  a wife  as  you  say  she  is,  and  I have  sent  a 
pair  of  glove  tops  for  penny  as  well  as  a cap.  mr  and  mrs 
Simons  was  hear  to  see  me  the  other  day,  when  I was  a wright- 
ing  to  you  in  the  beginning  of  this  letter,  thay  desierd  thare 
Service  to  you.  I have  been  three  or  four  times  at  this  letter 
and  hope  now  I shall  finish,  my  father  has  wrote  ofen  to  you, 
and  you  complain  that  you  sildom  hear  from  him.  so  he  fanceys 
thay  must  miscarrey.  my  dear  brother  I hop  you  will  write  to 
me  by  the  first  opportunity,  and  let  me  know  if  you  have  re- 

1 Penelope  (1735—1 756).  She  is  said  to  have  died,  unmarried,  at  Boothbay, 
Maine. 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1741 


1 1 


ceved  my  small  poor  present.  I shall  be  rejoyced  at  a letter 
from  you.  I would  have  sent  petter  and  charls  each  of  them  a 
little  bit  of  gold  but  am  a fraid  to  venture,  if  you  git  these  safe 
and  when  ever  you  send  me  a letter  by  aney  ship,  if  you  know 
aney  one  in  it  that  I may  trust,  I will  not  forgit  my  two  dear 
boys.  I now  conclude  with  wishing  my  Dear  Brother  health 
and  prosperity,  my  prayers  and  best  wishes  allways  atend  you 
and  yours,  so  god  bless  you  my  Dear  Brother  and  beleave  me 
to  be  your  ever  loveing  sister 

H.  Pelham. 

Diret  for  me  at  the  Honble  mrs  Conways  in  Green  Street 
by  Grosvenor  Square 

Sept,  the  1,  1741. 

[Endorsed:]  Boston  Deer,  the  9th:  1741.  Rec:d  this  with  the 
Banbox,  with  the  Cap,  fan,  Apron,  and  knott,  by  the  hands 
of  Mr.  Rello. 

[Addressed:]  To  Mr.  Petter  Pelham  at  Boston  in  New  Eng- 
land. 

Peter  Pelham , Sr.  to  William  Pelham 1 
My  Dear  William, 

I Return  you  my  hearty  thankes  for  your  kind  and  Prety 
Letter  which  gave  me  a great  deale  of  Pleasure  and  satisfaction 
at  your  tender  years  to  Perform  so  good  and  Dutifull  a Letter 
to  me,  your  Poor  old  Grandfather,  which  I hope  you  will  Con- 
tinue to  do  as  offten  as  you  have  an  opertunity.  for  their  Can 
be  nothing  so  Pleaseing  to  me  as  to  hear  of  the  wellfair  of  my 
Dear  Children,  which  you  all  are,  and  shall  all  Pertake  of  my 

1 Son  of  Peter  Pelham,  Jr.,  by  his  first  wife,  Martha.  He  was  born  in  Boston, 
February  22,  1729,  and  buried  January  28,  1761. 


i2  Copley -Pelham  Letters  1742 

Blessing  and  hearty  Prayers  to  god  that  you  may  live  to  be  a 
Comfort  to  your  Dear  father  and  mother,  which  will  indear  me 
to  value  so  obeideant  a son,  and  I hope  a good  man  as  well  as  a 
good  Christian,  which  will  be  the  greatest  happyness  to  your 
Parent  yourself,  but  more  Espsilarly  to  your  Ever  Tender  and 
Affectionate  Grandfather 

P:  Pelham. 

My  kind  Blessing  to  Thomas  and  thank  him  for  his  Remem- 
berance  of  me  in  your  Letter. 

London,  February  the  19th,  1741:2 

Helena  Pelham  to  Peter  Pelham , Jr- 

London,  febury:the:  19: 1741  [1742.] 

My  Dear  Brother, 

you  may  be  sure  it  gives  us  a greate  pleasure  to  hear  from 
you.  I never  was  more  pleasd  with  aney  thing  then  with  your 
little  girls  letter.  I dare  say  she  is  a charming  childe,  and  I was 
glad  to  hear  from  my  own  dear  boy  charls,  who  I hope  is  still 
handsome,  he  was  the  preteyest  boy  when  he  went  over  that 
ever  was.  my  father  heard  that  Petter  was  a sencable  young 
man,  and  verey  chomical  and  entertaining.  Lady  Delleraine 
knows  him.  he  teaches  her  sister  at  South  carrolina.  She  came 
from  thence,  my  father  intends  wrighting  to  him  when  her 
Ladyship  writs  to  her  father,  and  she  will  send  it.  I am  sorrey 
you  never  got  those  things  I sent  over  to  penny  [Penelope],  it 
was  a cap  I drest  her  up  and  pink  and  silver  ribbon  in  it  and  a 
pair  of  silver  glove  tops  and  a tippet  I thinke.  I sent  the  ban- 
box  by  one  mr  Rello,  a swiss.  he  sayde  he  went  to  boston  to  be 
gunner  of  a ship  thare  at  boston,  so  pray  in  quire  for  him  and 
aske  him  what  he  did  with  a little  banbox  which  I gave  him 


1742 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


13 


directed  for  you  at  Boston.  I hope  the  poor  childe  will  git  her 
cap  yet.  it  is  a verey  pretey  one.  I thinke  it  is  runing  a hased 
[hazard]  to  send  things  so  far  of.  I knew  this  mr  Rello.  he 
lived  with  a familey  ware  my  lady  visets,  and  tolde  me  he  was 
going  a broad.  I asked  ware  he  sayde  to  boston,  so  I tolde  him 
I had  a brother  thare,  if  he  would  be  so  good  as  to  Carrey  a let- 
ter and  a little  parcel  for  me.  he  sayde  aney  thing  he  would 
take  care  of  it.  so  I got  these  things  dun  up  for  the  childe,  and 
gave  the  box  into  his  own  hand,  and  desierd  him  to  deliver  it 
to  you.  he  promisde  me  he  would  I made  no  Doubt  but  thay 
would  have  [reached]  you  Safe.  I hope  these  will  git  Safe  to  you 
how  ever  that  the  poor  child  ma  not  loos  all  her  fine  things.  I 
sopose  my  father  tolde  you  my  sister  was  married  a gaine.1  She 
was  marrid  last  michelmus,  and  lives  in  the  countrey  by  Barnet. 
She  is  verey  ill.  I question  if  she  can  live  long,  she  is  in  so  bad 
a way.  my  Dear  Brother  I am  still  with  the  same  good  Lady 
that  I went  over  to  Irland  to.  I have  been  three  times  since, 
so  in  all  I have  crost  the  Irish  seas  eight  times,  and  allways  the 
sickest  sole  at  sea  that  ever  was.  I wonder  if  ever  you  will  cross 
the  sea  to  come  to  olde  England  a gaine.  I fear  not.  I shall  never 
be  so  happey  as  [to]  see  you  mor  or  aney  of  yours,  all  the  plea- 
sure I can  expect  is  to  hear  from  you,  which  I hope  you  will 
never  fail  of  doing  as  ofen  as  opportunity  will  sarve.  I live  Just 
by  my  father,  which  is  to  me  a greate  happeyness,  for  I have  ofen 
the  pleasure  of  seeing  him.  my  Lady  has  taken  a leas  of  her 
house  for  five  year,  so  I thinke  now  I am  settled,  pray  let  me 
hear  from  you  as  soon  as  you  can.  Direct  for  mrs  Pelham  at 
the  Honble  Mrs  Conways  in  Green  Stre[et]  by  Grosvenor 
Square,  poor  mrs  Guy  is  yet  a live  but  verey  poor,  wee  are 
all  kind  to  her,  or  I dont  know  what  she  would  do.  I tolde  you 
1 The  name  of  her  husband,  Baker,  is  given  on  p.  15,  infra. 


1+ 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


174a 


this  in  my  letter  you  never  got,  and  that  she  desierd  her  ser- 
vice to  you  and  blessing  to  the  children.  I now  must  conclude 
my  Dearest  Brother  your  ever  faithfull  frind  and  Loveing  Sister. 

H.  Pelham. 

Pray  make  my  compleyments  to  your  Wife 

Helena  Pelham  to  Penelope  Pelham  1 

febury  the  19:  1741  [1742.] 

Dear  little  unknown  Penelope, 

I must  love  you  childe  for  your  name,  you  are  the  preteyest 
little  wrighter  I ever  knew.  I hope  to  convirce  with  you  by  letter 
as  ofen  as  you  have  an  opportunity,  that  I may  see  how 
finley  you  improve,  you  have  all  your  requests  granted.  See 
what  it  is  to  be  a pretey  little  begger.  a baby  a red  trunke  and 
a lock  and  key.  and  I my  little  childe  have  sent  you  a blue 
Ring  and  a necklace,  and  a Pelerin  to  wair  a bought  you  neck, 
such  a one  as  your  baby  has  on.  I should  be  mightley  pleasd 
to  see  you  at  the  opening  of  the  trunke,  for  I am  sure  you  will 
be  in  greate  Joy.  pray  let  me  hear  how  you  like  all  your  things 
and  give  my  service  to  your  mama,  so  a Due  my  little  unknown 
girl  I shall  be  allways  your  loveing  Aunt 

H.  Pelham. 

Peter  Pelham , Sr.  to  Peter  Pelham , Jr. 

My  Dear  Son, 

haveing  no  Answer  of  mine  to  you  since  I Writt,  which  was 
Dated  February  19th  1741:2,  which  was  an  Answer  to  yours  I 
Reed  February  4th,  Dated  November  30th  1741,  and  haveing 

1 Her  niece. 


1742 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


15 


Reed  the  inclosd  from  Mr.  Lowrey  Directed  in  a Blank  Paper 
to  me  Directed,  tooke  the  first  opertunity  to  send  it,  and  withall 
to  Acquaint  you  that  your  Poor  Sister  Baker  Dyde  on  Sunday 
the  29th  of  August  Last  after  a Long  and  tedious  Illness,  your 
Sister  Heley  Desires  her  kindest  Love  Affections  Blessing  and 
Servis  to  you  and  all  yours,  and  is  much  Concernd  to  know  if 
you  Ever  Reed  her  Litle  Presents  to  her  Dear  Neice  Penelope, 
she  sent  by  Mr.  Cahill,  who  Promist  to  take  great  Care  to  De- 
liver them  with  his  owne  hands ; I had  the  Pleasure  of  a Letter 
from  Dear  Peter  from  Charlestowne,  Carolina,  the  15th  of  May 
last,  which  I Designe  to  Answer  very  soone.  it  Reioices  me 
Extreamly  to  hear  by  the  Countess  of  Deloraine  that  Came 
from  thence  that  he  is  Extreamly  Likd,  and  behaves  himself 
mighty  well,  and  teaches  her  sister  to  play  on  the  spinett  and 
has  a very  good  Charicter  which  is  a great  Comfort  to  me  to 
hear. 

I Cannot  give  you  any  Account  by  what  Ship  or  Captain 
this  Comes  to  you,  not  being  able  to  go  so  farr  as  the  new  Eng- 
land Coffee  house  1 to  putt  my  letter  in  myself;  but  am  forst  to 
send  it  to  a friend  to  put  it  in  for  me,  who  lives  Just  by  and  hope 
it  will  Come  safe  to  you,  and  shall  be  Extream  Glad  to  hear 
from  you.  this  with  my  Blessing  to  you,  my  Daughter  Pel- 
ham, William,  Charles  I should  have  said  first,  Tho:  and  my 
Little  Dear  Penelope,  and  Chiefly  to  your  Self,  who  am  in  Con- 
tinuall  Prayers  to  god  to  send  his  Blessing  on  [you]  and  all 
yours  from  a sincear  Most  Affectionate  and  Ever  Indulgent 
father 

Peter  Pelham. 

London,  October  12th,  1742. 

1 This  was  in  Threadneedle  Street,  behind  the  Royal  Exchange,  and  facing 
the  favorite  Coffee  House  known  as  “ Grigsby’s.” 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1748 


1 6 


Peter  Pelham , Sr.  to  Peter  Pelham , Jr. 

My  Dear  Son, 

I take  this  opertunity  of  a Gentleman  that  is  Designd  for 
Boston,  who  is  to  Call  in  me  this  morning,  theirfore  am  very 
scanty  of  time,  and  to  acquaint  you  that  I have  not  heard  from 
you  since  October  the  12  Dated  November  30th  1741.  but  as 
my  grandson  has  writ  severall  to  me  I Impute  the  miscarridge 
by  the  Spaniards  Intersepting  them,  which  I hope  is  the  Case 
with  you,  which  makes  me  very  Ready  to  Judge  it  not  want  of 
Duty  or  Love  and  affections,  which  you  so  much  Exprest  in 
your  Last  to  me.  your  Poor  sister  Baker  Died  Last  August  on 
the  29th  after  a very  Tedious  indisposition,  your  sister  Helena 
thank  god  is  very  well.  I hope  in  the  Lord  this  will  find  you  all 
the  same,  my  kind  Rispects  to  my  Daughter  Pelham,  with  my 
hearty  Blessing  to  her  to  you  and  to  all  my  Dear  Grand  Chil- 
dren I am  in  great  hast.  Expect  the  Gentleman  and  my  Ladys 
Call,  and  am  my  Dear  son  y our  Ever  Most  Affectionate  father 

P:  Pelham. 

London,  July  20th,  1743. 

[Endorsed]  Rec’d  this  Letter  Octo’r  the  14,  1743,  per  Mr. 
Wakefield  1 


Helena  Pelham  to  Peter  Pelham , Jr? 

Oct.  3,  1748. 

My  dear  Brother, 

I begin  writing  to  you  without  knowing  whether  it  will  ever 
come  to  your  hands  or  not,  but  I am  determined  to  write,  and 
hope  you  will  get  some  of  my  letters  if  not  all.  This  is  the  third 

1 Pelham  married  for  his  third  wife,  Mary  Copley,  widow  of  Richard  Copley 
and  daughter  of  John  Singleton,  of  Quinville  Abbey,  County  Clare.  The  marriage 
took  place  in  Boston,  in  1748.  2 From  Mass.  Hist.  Soc.  Proceedings , ix.  202. 


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1748 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


J7 


time  I have  wrote  since  February;  in  my  last  I told  you  that 
my  father  was  very  well,  and  so  he  is  now,  thank  God  Almighty 
for  it.  I am  in  the  country,  but  hear  frequently  from  my  dear 
father.  We  have  been  out  of  town  ever  since  the  second  of  May. 
I long  to  have  a letter  from  you  to  know  how  you  and  all  your 
family  does.  In  your  last  you  were  so  good  as  to  tell  my  father 
how  your  sons  was  disposed  of.  I hope  Peter  is  happily  married. 
As  Charles  is  brought  up  a merchant  I flatter  myself  that  some 
time  or  an  other  he  will  come  to  England.  O my  dear  soul  how 
glad  I shall  be  to  see  him;  if  please  God  I should  be  alive  then. 
I shall  here  send  you  a direction  how  to  write  to  me,  which  I 
did  in  my  two  last  letters,  but  till  I hear  from  you  I am  not  sure 
you  got  them.  I hope  you  will  never  fail  to  write  when  any 
ships  come  to  London,  for  it  is  the  greatest  pleasure  in  the  world 
to  my  dear  father  and  me  to  hear  of  your  welfare.  I am  sure 
my  letters  must  be  very  stupid  to  my  dear  brother,  as  I have 
nothing  entertaining  to  tell  you,  for  as  you  know  none  of  my 
acquaintance,  nor  I any  of  yours,  must  make  my  letters  very 
stupid;  for  after  I have  inquired  how  you,  your  wife,  and  the 
dear  children  are,  and  tell  you  my  father  and  self  are  well,  I 
have  nothing  more  to  say.  As  for  news  I can  never  write  of  that 
you  have  in  a better  manner  than  what  I can  express  it.  So  will 
conclude  with  my  best  wishes  and  love  to  your  self  and  to  your 
wife,  and  to  all  your  family  and  hope  you  will  believe  me  to  be, 
Your  ever  loving  sister 

Helena  Pelham. 

I send  this  to  town  to  my  father  & get  him  to  send  it  to  the 
New  England  Coffee  house. 

Direct  for  me  at  the  Honble  Mrs.  Conways  in  Green  St, 
near  Grosvenor  Square. 

To  Mr  Peter  Pelham,  Sr  at  Boston  in  New  England. 


1 8 Copley -‘Pelham  Letters  1749 


Peter  Pelham , Sr.  to  Peter  Pelham , Jr. 

My  Dear  Son, 

I had  the  Pleasure  and  happiness  to  see  your  Letter  to  your 
sister,  which  she  Reed  on  Monday  the  23  d of  October,  Dated 
August  10th  last  Past,  where  in  I find  you  are  Concemd  in  not 
hearing  from  me.  But  Could  you  but  Imagin  what  a fateague 
it  is  to  me  in  makeing  so  many  Pott  hooks  and  hangers  you 
would  be  good  Enough  to  Excuse  me.  since  I have  the  Blessing 
of  a Most  Dutifull  Daughter  to  do  that  office  for  me,  I Cannot 
speake  half  her  worth  in  Duty  love  and  Affections  she  dos  and 
has  show’d  to  me  for  many  years,  in  assisting  me  many  times 
with  Money  Cloaths  and  linin  in  which  I was  Reduc : d in  the 
later  Part  of  my  Poor  Dear  Ladys  life;  you  seem  to  take  it  ill 
of  your  sister  for  not  Letting  you  know  the  Place  of  my  aboade, 
which  is  at  one  Mr.  Comptons  a grocer  in  South  Audley  Street 
Grocevenor  Square:  I am  Extreamly  well  Pleasd  that  god  has 
blest  you  with  so  Choice[?]  a Companion,  which  is  the  greatest 
Pleasure  and  Comfort  of  life.  I Pray  god  Bless  you  all  with 
health  and  Prosperity  and  grant  you  Patiance  till  I am  call[ed] 
home,  at  which  time  I shall  not  forgett  my  Dearest  son,  and 
asure  you  all  that  I am  blest  with  at  Present  shall  not  go  from 
you  or  yours,  your  sister  is  to  inclose  this  so  can  say  no  more  at 
Present  but  Remain  My  Dear  son  your  Ever  Most  Affection- 
ate father 

P:  Pelham. 

South  Audley  Street,  Grosvenor  Square 
London,  November  30,  1749. 1 


1 Received  February  12,  1749-50. 


i7S° 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


r9 


Charles  Pelham 1 to  Peter  Pelham , Jr. 

Newport,  Sepr.  io,  1750. 

Hon’d  Sir! 

On  Saturday  Evening  I Arriv’d  here  after  a very  pleasant 
Ride  of  almost  Two  Days,  and  as  I immagine  I shall  not  set 
out  from  hence  before  the  beginning  of  next  Week  I thought  it 
proper  to  present  you  and  my  Mother  my  humble  Duty  and 
Love,  which  I flatter  my  Self  will  not  be  unacceptable  to  you; 
and  I hope  when  I return  to  meet  with  your  Blessing  and  Con- 
tinuance of  your  Regard  and  Love. 

I met  with  Mr.  Rob’t.  Jenkins  upon  the  Road  on  Fryday 
Night  where  I Lodg’d  at  1 1 oClock  at  Night,  who  Wak’d  me 
after  I had  been  an  hour  in  Bed,  so  I did  not  Speak  to  him  with 
Regard  to  your  Receipts,  as  it  was  an  improper  time,  and  as 
you  will  see  him  In  Boston,  what  he  has  done  with  them  I can- 
not say;  But  Bro’r  Phillips  Informs  me,  if  you  will  send  him 
Receipts,  he  will  Engage  to  procure  20.  or  30  Subscribers  with- 
out fail,  so  if  you  see  cause  you  may  do  it  Writing  him  a Line 
informing  him  I had  acquainted  you  of  his  proposition,  which  he 
says  he  would  be  glad  to  do  to  serve  you.2  whether  or  not  he  can 
do  it  I am  no  Judge  at  present,  so  you  are  to  do  as  you  Please, 
pray  present  my  Love  to  my  Brethren  and  Accept  me  as  Hon’d 
and  Dear  Sir  Your  Dutiful  and  Affect’e  Son,  and  hum.  Serv’t 

Chas.  Pelham. 

This  I Write  under  several  Disadvantages,  so  hope  you’l 
Excuse  the  Roughness  of  it.  Mr.  Rowand  and  Mr.  Logan  pre- 
sent you  their  kind  Service. 

1 Son  of  Peter  Pelham,  Jr. 

2 In  1750  Pelham  engraved  a portrait  of  Rev.  Thomas  Prince,  painted  by 
John  Greenwood. 


20  Copley -Pelham  Letters  1755 


Will  of  Peter  Pelham , Sr.,1  1755 

In  the  Name  of  God  Amen.  This  is  the  last  Will  and  Testa- 
ment of  me  Peter  Pelham  now  of  the  parish  of  Saint  George  Han- 
over Square  in  the  County  of  Middlesex  Gentleman  which  I now 
make  whilst  I am  in  perfect  Health  in  order  to  prevent  any  Dis- 
putes that  might  arise  after  my  Death  touching  or  Concerning 
the  Disposition  of  my  Estate  and  Effects  in  Manner  following 
(that  is  to  say)  first  and  principally  I recommend  my  Soul  into 
the  hands  of  Almighty  God  my  Creator  hoping  for  the  Salvation 
of  it  through  the  Merits  and  Intercession  of  my  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ  and  my  Body  I Commit  to  the  Earth  to  be  Buried  in  such 
Decent  but  private  manner  as  to  my  Executors  hereinafter  Named 
shall  seem  meet  And  as  to  such  Worldly  Estate  as  it  hath  Pleased 
God  to  Bless  me  with  I Give  and  Dispose  thereof  as  follows,  First 
I Give  and  Bequeath  unto  Henry  Compton  and  John  Compton 
Sons  of  Thomas  Compton  of  the  said  parish  of  Saint  George  Han- 
over Square  Grocer  the  Sum  of  Twenty  pounds  apiece  to  be  paid 
them  as  soon  after  my  decease  as  possible  and  it  is  my  Will  and 
Desire  that  all  my  Wearing  Apparel  be  sold  and  disposed  of  as 
soon  after  my  Deacease  as  Conveniently  may  be  and  the  money 
Arising  by  sale  thereof  shall  go  Into  and  be  taken  as  part  of  the 
Residum  of  my  Estate  and  Effects  Item  I Give  and  Bequeath 
unto  the  said  Thomas  Compton  and  John  Tiso  of  Bloomsbury  in 
the  said  County  of  Middlesex  Oylman  the  sum  of  Ten  pounds 
apiece  hoping  they  will  take  upon  them  the  Execution  of  the 
Trusts  hereby  Reposed  in  them  Item  I Give  and  bequeath  unto 
my  Loving  son  Peter  Pelham  now  at  Boston  in  New  England  the 
sum  of  Two  Hundred  pounds  of  lawfull  money  of  Great  Britain 
to  be  paid  him  as  soon  after  my  decease  as  Conveniently  may  be 
but  In  Case  I shall  survive  my  said  Son  then  the  said  sum  of  Two 
Hundred  pounds  shall  go  into  and  be  taken  as  part  of  the  Residuum 
of  my  Estate  and  Effects  Item  I Give  and  Bequeath  unto  my  Lov- 
ing Daughter  Helena  Pelham  my  Two  Handled  Silver  Cup  And 

1 From  the  records  of  the  Prerogative  Court  of  Canterbury,  Somerset  House. 


1755 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


2 I 


it  is  my  will  meaning  and  desire  that  my  said  Daughter  Helena 
Pelham  shall  have  the  use  of  all  the  Remainder  of  my  plate  and 
Rings  for  and  during  the  Term  of  her  Natural  life  and  from  and 
imediately  after  her  Decease  then  my  will  and  desire  is  that  the 
same  shall  be  sold  by  my  Executors  herein  after  named  and  the 
money  arising  by  sale  thereof  shall  also  go  into  and  be  taken  as 
part  of  the  Residuum  of  my  Estate  and  Effects  And  all  the  Rest 
Residue  and  Remainder  of  my  Estate  and  Effects  both  Real  and 
personal  of  what  Nature  Kind  or  Quality  soever  whereof  I shall 
Dye  Possessed  or  whereunto  I shall  be  Intitled  at  the  time  of  my 
Death  either  in  Possession  Reversion  Remainder  or  Expectancy 
(after  payment  of  my  Just  Debts  Legacys  and  funeral  Expences 
which  I hereby  Charge  with  the  payments  thereof)  I Give  Devise 
and  Bequeath  the  same  unto  the  said  Thomas  Compton  and  John 
Tiso  their  Executors  and  Administrators  Upon  . this  special  Trust 
and  Confidence  nevertheless  to  pay  and  apply  the  Interest  and 
produce  thereof  unto  my  said  Daughter  Helena  Pelham  and  her 
Assigns  for  and  during  the  Term  of  her  Natural  life  and  from  and 
Imediately  after  her  Death  then  I Give  Devise  and  bequeath  the 
whole  of  the  Residuum  of  my  Estate  and  Effects  unto  my  said  Son 
Peter  Pelham  his  heirs  and  Assigns  forever  but  in  Case  my  said 
Daughter  shall  happen  to  Survive  my  said  son  then  I Give  Devise 
and  Bequeath  the  same  (after  the  Death  of  my  said  Daughter  as 
aforesaid)  unto  and  amongst  all  and  every  the  Child  and  Children 
of  my  said  son  Peter  Pelham  Lawfully  begotten  to  be  Equally  Di- 
vided amongst  them  share  and  share  alike  And  In  Case  any  of 
the  Children  of  my  said  son  Peter  Pelham  shall  happen  to  Dye 
before  the  Bequest  hereinbefore  mentioned  can  take  Effect  leav- 
ing (or  is  now  Dead  and  has  Left)  any  Child  or  Children  behind 
him  her  or  them  then  I Give  the  share  of  him  her  or  them  so  Dying 
unto  such  Child  or  Children  in  Equal  shares  and  proportions  And 
I do  hereby  Nominate  Constitute  and  Appoint  the  said  Thomas 
Compton  and  John  Tiso  Joint  Executors  of  this  my  last  Will  and 
Testament  And  I do  hereby  Revoke  and  make  Void  all  former  and 
other  Wills  by  me  at  any  time  heretofore  made  And  I do  Declare 
this  only  to  be  my  Last  Will  and  Testament  In  Witness  Whereof 


22  Copley -Pelham  Letters  1756 

I the  said  Peter  Pelham  have  to  this  my  last  Will  and  Testament 
Written  upon  Two  sheets  of  Paper  to  the  first  whereof  I have  set 
my  hand  and  to  the  last  Sheet  my  Hand  and  Seal  this  Thirtieth 
Day  of  June  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  Thousand  Seven  Hundred 
and  fifty  five. 

Peter  Pelham.  (L.S.) 

Signed  Sealed  Published  and  declared  by  the  said  Peter  Pel- 
ham the  Testator  as  and  for  his  last  will  and  Testament  in  the 
presence  of  us  who  at  his  Request  and  in  his  Sight  and  in  the  Sight 
of  each  other  have  Subscribed  our  Names  as  Witnesses  hereto  — 
Thos  Williams  — Joseph  Kaye  South  Audley  Street  Grosvenor 
Square  London  — John  Mitton  his  clerk. 

Proved  22nd  July  1756. 

July  22d  1756. 

Thomas  Compton  one  of  the  Executors  within  named  was  sworn 
before  me 

Taverner  And  : Colter  Ducarel 

Surrogate 

Proved  at  London  the  twenty  second  day  of  July  1756  before  the 
Worshipfull  Andrew  Colter  Ducarel  Doctor  of  Laws  Surrogate  by 
the  Oath  of  Thomas  Compton  one  of  the  Executors  to  whom  Ad- 
ministration was  granted  having  been  first  sworn  duly  to  admine- 
ster  (John  Tiso  the  ether  Executor  also  one  of  the  residuary  Lega- 
tees in  the  Trust  named  in  the  said  Will  having  renounced  as  well 
the  Execution  thereof  as  also  the  said  Trust). 

The  Testator  wTas  formerly  of  the  parish  within  mentioned  but 
died  late  of  the  City  of  Chichester  in  the  County  of  Sussex  on  the 
2d  day  of  July  last  a Widower.1 

1 See  Mass.  Col.  Soc.  Transactions , v.  194. 


1762 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


2 3 


Thomas  Ainslie 1 to  Copley 

D’r  S’r, 

I am  favour’d  with  Yours,  and  the  picture  came  very  safe, 
and  gives  me  great  Satisfaction.  I am  just  going  to  send  it  to 
Scotland  to  please  a fond  Parent,  and  as  it  goes  in  a Man  of 
War,  I hope  She  will  receive  it  Safe. 

I belive  You  may  find  it  worth  Your  while  to  take  a trip 
down  here  in  the  Spring,  there  are  several  people  who  would 
be  glad  to  employ  You,  I belive  so  because  I have  heard  it 
mentiond,  if  you  should  stay  never  so  little  while  with  us 
should  You  come  my  Assistance  in  any  thing  in  my  power 
should  not  be  wanting,  I am  D’r  S’r  Your  Oblid:  hum’l  Ser’t 

Thos.  Ainslie. 

Halifax,  8 Oct:  1757. 

Helena  Pelham  to  Charles  Pelham  2 

Chichester,  Feby  15th,  1762. 

My  dear  Nephew, 

The  third  of  this  month  brought  me  the  confort  and  pleasure 
of  a letter  from  you  dated  Nov.  2.  1761.  Indeed  I was  rejoiced 
to  see  one,  for  I have  been  vastly  uneasy  as  I have  never  heard 
from  you  since  Oct.  27,  1759  and  I have  written  you  three  letters 
since  that.  My  dear  I have  never  heard  from  you  since  that 
dreadful  fire  happened  at  Boston,3  therefore  judge  of  my 
uneasiness.  But,  thank  God,  I have  now  heard  that  you  are 

1 Collector  of  the  port  of  Quebec  and  a captain  in  the  city’s  militia.  His 
diary  during  the  defence  of  Quebec  against  the  Americans  in  1775-1776  was 
printed  by  the  Literary  and  Historical  Society  of  Quebec,  vii.  9.  The  manu- 
script is  in  the  Sparks  Mss.  in  Harvard  College  Library. 

2 From  Mass.  Hist.  Soc.  Proceedings , ix.  206. 

3 That  of  March  20,  1760.  See  N.  E Hist.  Gen.  Reg.,  xxxiv.  288. 


24 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1762 


well,  as  for  your  brother  Peter,  I have  not  heard  from  him  this 
age  — poor  William  you  mentioned  to  me  and  said  he  was  but 
of  a poor  constitution,1  and  till  then  I did  not  know  that  there 
was  any  children  of  your  mother’s,  but  Peter  and  you ; or  if  I 
did  I had  forgot  it.  So  your  brother  has  five  children,  poor 
man  I pity  him.2  You  have  never  seen  Capt.  Parker  I suppose 
since  you  told  me  of  him,  I know  him  perfectly  well. 

Now  Charles  as  to  my  picture,  how  can  you  think  I would  sit 
for  it.  Your  grandfather  sat  for  his  at  80,  ’t  is  true,  but  there 
never  was  so  handsome,  so  charming  a man  at  that  age  as  he 
was  — it  was  with  much  ado  that  I got  him  to  have  it  done.  I 
told  him  I would  not  be  without  it  for  any  thing  in  the  world, 
nor  indeed  no  more  I would,  and  as  there  was  a tolerable  good 
painter  upon  the  place,  I insisted  on  it — but  as  to  miniature 
there  is  not  one  nearer  than  London,  and  it  would  cost  above 
half  a year’s  income  to  have  it  done,  were  I even  there,  and 
most  likely  I shall  never  go  there  again,  for  tho’  my  dear  father 
was  older  than  I,  yet  in  constitution  I was  always  older  than 
him.  So  desire  never  to  hear  any  more  on  that  subject,  for  I 
shall  never  come  into  it. 

I am  much  obliged  to  Mr.  Parsons  who  sent  me  your  letter 
directly,  and  I send  this  to  him  and  beg  the  favour  of  him  to 
send  it.  I desire  you  will  send  yours  to  him  when  you  write, 
which  I hope  will  not  be  long  before  I shall  be  made  so  happy. 
Now  I must  tell  the  dates  of  my  letters  which  I wrote  — Yours 
of  Oct  27,  I reed  Jany  2.  60  — and  I answered  that  Apr  18  — ' 
I wrote  again  Aug  15,  and  in  Mch  13  61  — so  you  see  how  often 
I have  wrote  to  you  — 3 letters  for  one.  I hope  this  will  come 

1 William  was  buried  January  28,  1761. 

2 Probably  Peter,  who  “left  many  descendants”  in  Virginia,  but  nothing 
is  known  of  them.  The  name  of  Peter  Pelham  was  in  the  militia  rolls  of  the 
Revolution. 


1762 


25 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


safe,  for  indeed  my  dear,  writing  is  not  the  agreeablest  thing 
in  the  world,  unless  I could  write  as  well  as  you  do  — but  my 
writing  and  spelling  is  so  bad  that  I can  take  no  pleasure  in  it 
— but  it  is  the  only  way  that  any  one  can  have  the  pleasure  of 
conversing  with  their  friends  and  I hope  so  near  and  dear  as 
you  are  to  me  that  you  will  be  good  enough  to  make  allowances 
for  an  old  woman. 

I saw  in  the  papers  you  had  a fine  burial  at  Boston  — poor 
General  Whitmore,1  some  of  his  troops  are  here.  I think  it  was 
a sad  accident  he  met  with.  My  dear  child  I cannot  possibly 
make  my  letter  agreeable  to  you  by  telling  you  all  the  chit- 
chat, as  you  know  not  a soul  here,  so  will  conclude  with  assuring 
you  how  much  I am  Your  affectionate  aunt  and  humble 
servant, 

Helena  Pelham. 

P.S.  My  dear  nephew.  I do  not  remember  any  thing  about 
your  ever  having  the  small  pox,  but  think  it  most  likely  you 
never  had  it,  by  your  brother  having  so  lately  got  it  — so  hope 
you  will  always  avoid  it,  as  you  say  you  have  done.  I cannot  tell 
what  to  say  in  regard  to  your  coming  to  England,  as  it  is  not  in 
my  power  to  give  you  the  assistance  I could  wish,  therefore 
must  say  you  are  right  in  staying  in  a place  where  you  are 
known  and  settled  — and  dont  doubt  but  God  will  give  a 
blessing  to  your  honest  endeavours,  and  shall  think  myself 
happy  in  hearing  from  you  and  of  your  welfare,  — which  I 
hope  you  will  be  so  good  as  to  gratify  me  in  as  often  as  you 
can. 

1 Edward  Whitmore,  who  was  at  the  siege  of  Louisburg  and  remained  as 
governor  after  its  capture  in  1758.  He  was  drowned  in  Boston  harbor,  De- 
cember 11,  1761,  aged  seventy-one,  and  was  buried  under  King’s  Chapel. 
Foote,  Annals  of  King’s  Chapel , 11.  213. 


26 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1762 


Copley  to  Jean  Etienne  Liotard  1 

Boston,  Sep’r  30,  1762. 
Sir, 

This  Letter  will  meet  You  accompanied  by  one  from  the 
Worthy  Coll : 1 Spierring  who  has  been  so  kind  to  give  me  his 
assistance  for  the  obtaining  a sett  of  the  best  Swis  Crayons  for 
drawing  of  Portraits,  allow  me  Sir  to  Joyn  my  sollicitations 
with  him  that  You  would  send  as  He  directs  one  sett  of  Cray- 
ons of  the  very  best  kind  such  as  You  can  recommend  [for] 
liveliness  of  colour  and  Justness  of  tints.  In  a word  let  em  be  a 
sett  of  the  very  best  that  can  be  got. 

You  may  perhaps  be  surprised  that  so  remote  a corner  of  the 
Globe  as.  New  England  should  have  any  d[e]mand  for  the  neces- 
sary eutensils  for  practiceing  the  fine  Arts,  but  I assure  You  Sir 
however  feeble  our  efforts  may  be,  it  is  not  for  want  of  inclina- 
tion that  they  are  not  better,  but  the  want  of  oppertunity  to 
improve  ourselves,  however  America  which  has  been  the  seat 
of  war  and  desolation,  I would  fain  hope  will  one  Day  become 
the  School  of  fine  Arts  and  Monsieur  Liotard[’s]  Drawing  with 
Justice  be  set  as  patterns  for  our  immitation.  not  that  I have 
ever  had  the  advantage  of  beholding  any  one  of  those  rare 
peices  from  Your  hand,  but  [have]  formd  a Judgment  on  the 
true  tast  of  several  of  My  friend[s]  who  has  seen  em. 

permit  me  Sir  to  conclude  with  wishing  You  all  Helth  and 
happyness. 

1 Draft,  in  Copley’s  handwriting,  unsigned  and  without  address.  Upon  an- 
other sheet  is  written  in  a different  handwriting:  “A  Monsieur  Liotard  fameux 
Peintre  a Geneve  en  Suisse.”  Liotard  (1702-1790)  was  surnamed  l<the  Turk” 
because  of  his  adopting  the  Turkish  costume.  He  is  remembered  chiefly  for  his 
delicate  pastel  drawings,  of  which  the  “ Chocolate  Girl  ” in  the  Dresden  Gallery 
is  one  of  the  best  known. 


17  63 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


2 7 


S.  Fayenueather 1 to  Copley 
Mr  Copley, 

After  Waiting  a Considerable  time 
with  much  Uneasiness  to  know  whether 
Judge  Leigh’s  2 Picture  was  sent  to 
Carolina  or  no,  at  Length  I ’m  Agree- 
ably Surpriz’d  to  find  it  is  Actually 
Gone,  and  I hope  by  this,  it  has  Gott 
safe  to  its  Destind  Port,  and  that  the 
proper  Owner  has  joyfully  took  pos- 
session of  it. 

Upon  Your  Information  in  your  last 
letter  I immediately  Wrote  to  Mr  Leigh 
of  y^our  having  sent  from  Boston  his 
Honourd  Fathers  Effigy  to  Him,  But 
Coud  not  tell  By  Whom,  or  What  Ves- 
sel it  Went;  of  this  Be  pleasd  to  Ac- 
quaint Me. 

I have  made  the  handsomest  Apol- 
ogy to  Mr  Leigh  in  your  Behalf,  for  the 
long  Detention  of  the  Picture ; And  not 

1 Rev.  Samuel  Fayerweather  (1725-1781), 
graduated  from  Harvard  College  in  1743,  settled 
in  Newport,  Rhode  Island,  in  1754,  was  ordained 
a presbyter  in  the  Episcopal  Church  in  England 
in  1756,  and  entered  upon  his  mission  at  St. 
Paul’s,  Narragansett,  in  1760. 

2 Probably  Peter  Leigh  (1710-1759),  Chief 
Justice  of  South  Carolina.  His  only  surviving  son 
was  Sir  Egerton  Leigh,  whose  controversy  with 
Henry  Laurens  gave  occasion  to  an  interesting 
series  of  pamphlets  before  the  War  of  Independ- 


ence. 


RECEIPT  BY  COPLEY,  1 758 


28 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1763 


only  so,  but  wrote  Him  of  your  Assiduity  and  Diligence  to  Gett 
it  on  Board  of  a proper  Vessel:  And  of  your  being  obligd  to 
Unshipp  it  once,  by  reason  of  the  Ship’s  altering  her  Voyage  for 
Another  part  of  the  World,  after  She  putt  up  for  Charlestown 
South  Carolina.  Upon  the  Whole,  It  will  Much  Rejoyce  Me  to 
hear  from  Mr  Leigh  which  I Expect  daily,  and  of  Which  you 
shall  know.  With  Compliments  To  yr  Good  Mother  I Subscribe 
y’r  most  humble  Serv’t 

S.  Fayerweather. 

Narragansett,  Jan’y  7th,  1763. 

[Addressed:]  To  Mr.  John  Copley,  Limner,  Near  the  Orange 
Tree  In  Boston.  These  Pr  favr  of  Mr  Mumford. 

Captain  Peter  Traille 1 to  Copley 

Sir, 

I received  the  favor  of  Yours,  by  the  last  Vessel  from  Boston 
and  shou’d  have  sent  for  my  Picture  long  ago  but  have  not 
be[en]  able  to  get  a proper  Oportunity.  I shou’d  be  glad  you 
would  draw  upon  me  for  the  Cash;  and  send  the  Picture 
when  you  can  meet  with  a proper  Conveyance. 

It  wou’d  realy  be  worth  Your  while  to  make  a Visit  here.  I 
am  certain  that  y[ou  would]  get  a Hundred  or  two  £ ster’lg 
this  summer.  I shou’d  be  very  glad  to  see  You,  and  shou’d  en- 
deavor to  make  the  Place  as  agreable  to  You  as  in  my  Power. 
I am  Sir,  Your  Most  Obedient  and  Humble  Serv’t 

P.  Traille. 

Halifax,  24th  ApriJ,  1763. 

1 The  name  is  not  in  the  Army  List  for  this  year. 


1764 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


29 


Copley  to  [ Charles  Pelham ?] 

Boston,  Jan’y  24,  1764. 

Dear  Sir, 

I have  receifd  the  Money  (103.10.)  Old  Ten’r  from  Mr  Box 
and  sent  the  same  by  Miss  Johana  Dodge  (as  you  desired). 

I have  entertain’d  some  hopes  I should  have  the  happyness 
of  seeing  You  once  more  in  Boston,  before  the  small  Pox  had 
spread  its  contagion  so  far  as  to  render  it  utterly  unsafe  for  You 
to  venture  without  the  risque  of  Your  health  if  not  Your  Life 
by  catching  that  distemper;  but  I can  now  by  no  means  advise 
You  to  see  this  distresst  Town,  till  its  surcumstances  are  less 
mallancolly  than  they  are  at  present,  which  I hope  will  be  in  a 
few  months,  and  which  I pray  God  of  his  infinite  goodness 
grant. 

My  dear  Mamah  sends  her  kind  love  and  Blessing  to  You 
wishes  You  all  imaginable  helth  and  happyness  in  Your  re- 
treat, and  her  compliments  with  mine  weit  on  the  ColPl 1 
Mrs.  Royall  and  the  Young  Ladys. 

Our  Brother  Henry  send  his  sincerest  love  to  and  best  wishes 
for  Your  Happyness,  and  promisses  strictly  to  observe  Your 
good  instructions  to  him,  which  were  very  sesonable,  this  being 
the  first  Day  he  has  been  able  to  draw  sence  You  left  us. 

I have  no  time  to  add  any  perticulars  about  the  small  pox 
at  present,  only  that  it  is  very  fatal,  allmost  every  [one]  being 
dead  that  has  been  taken  with  it,  or  remain  dangerously  ill.  I 
hear  there  are  several  in  the  Country  Towns  that  are  broke  out 
with  it,  perticularly  two  in  Roxbury  this  Morn’g,  which  looks 
as  if  the  callamity  would  be  more  general  than  we  first  expected. 

1 Isaac  Royall,  who  married,  March  27,  1738,  Elizabeth  McIntosh,  and  in 
1775  went,  with  other  loyalists,  to  England,  where  he  died  in  1781.  Two 
daughters  were  living  in  1763  — Mary  and  Elizabeth. 


3° 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


1764 


But  that  kind  Providence  may  preserve  You  and  the  good  fam- 
ily in  which  You  are  from  any  Personal  share  in  this  Callamity 
is  the  herty  prayer  of,  Dear  Sir,  Your  affectionate  friend  and 
Brother 

J : S : Copley. 

Thomas  Ainslie  to  Copley 

Quebec,  12  Nov’r,  1764. 
Sir, 

A few  days  ago  I had  Letters  from  Scotland  by  the  Snow 
Apthorp , in  which  my  Young  Son  of  15  Months  Old  went  a 
Passenger  to  Glasgow,  and  as  there  is  a Paragraph  in  one  of 
them,  which  does  great  honour  to  You,  I think  it  a Justice,  due 
to  YourMerite  to  accquaintyou  with  it,  and  that  too  in  my 
Father  in  Laws  own  Words: 

We  drank  Tea  with  Grandmama  Ainslie  the  afternoon  of  his 
Arrival,  and  being  in  the  dineing  Room,  the  Infant  eyed  your  Pic- 
ture, he  sprung  to  it,  roared,  and  schriched,  and  attempted  gripping 
the  hand,  but  when  he  could  not  catch  hold  of  it,  nor  gett  You  to 
speak  to  him,  he  stamp’d  and  scolded,  and  when  any  of  us  askt 
him  for  Papa,  he  always  turned,  and  pointed  to  the  Picture.  What 
think  [you]  of  this  proof  of  the  Painters  Skill  in  taking  Your  like- 
ness ? 

Now,  Sir,  As  I have  ever  had  an  Inclination  to  do  You  a Ser- 
vice if  in  my  power,  and  the  propagating  of  this  Circumstance, 
which  I have  taken  Care  to  do  having  not  a little  added  to  Your 
fame  here,  And  as  I am  of  Opinion  that  a Jaunt  into  this  Coun- 
try would  rather  add  to  Your  Credite,  and  fortune,  than  de- 
minish  it;  If  You  will  come  here  for  two  or  three  Months  in  the 
Summer,  so  as  to  be  here  in  June,  I have  a Room  in  my  house 
at  Your  Service,  so  that  Your  Stay  will  be  no  Expence  to  You, 
and  not  only  my  family,  but  all  those  of  Credite  in  the  town 


1765 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


3 1 


would  be  glad  to  employ  You.  Be  not  overperswaded  from 
coming,  for  certain  I am  Your  Journey  will  be  of  Service  to  you 
and  I shall  have  a pleasure  in  Entertaining  You.  I am,  Sir, 
Your  most  hum’bl  Servant 

Thos.  Ainslie. 

Let  me  hear  from  You  by  the  post  in  the  course  of  the 
Winter. 

Copley  to  [an  English  Mezzotinter] 

Boston,  Jan’y  25,  1765. 
Sir, 

Out  of  pure  regard  to  a good  Old  Decenting  Cleargyman  of 
this  Town  several  Gentlemen  have  apply’d  to  me  for  the  pro- 
curation of  his  portrait  inMetzotinto.  I therefore  beg  You  will 
be  pleasd  to  let  me  know  on  what  terms  You  will  undertake  the 
same,  and  add  to  your  demand  for  cutingthe  plate  (which  must 
be  fourteen  inches  by  ten  1 and  containing  only  a head  of  the 
Rev’d  Doc’r  Sewell) 2 that  of  paper  and  Printing  pr  hundred, 
for  as  to  number  I shall  want,  that  at  present  is  alltogether  un- 
certain, but  I shall  let  You  know  in  due  time,  leaving  the  plate 
in  Your  hands  till  I have  a sufficient  quantity  Printed  off,  than 
desire  the  plate  to  be  sent  me  with  the  last  parcil  of  prints.  I 
must  beg  You  will  not  neglect  writing  to  me  the  first  oppertun- 
ity,  for  by  the  time  Your  answer  comes  to  hand  I shall  have  the 
Picture  finishd  and  in  proper  Order  to  send.  I shall  likewise 
depend  on  Your  perticular  care  in  the  preservation  of  the  like- 
ness that  being  a main  part  of  the  exellency  of  a portrait  in  the 
oppinionof  our  New  England  Conoseurs.  be  pleasd  also  to  let 
me  know  the  price  of  the  different  kinds  of  frames,  as  also  that 

1 This  was  first  written  twelve. 

* Dr.  Joseph  Sewall  was  minister  in  the  Old  South  Church  from  1713  until  his 
death  in  1769. 


32 


176  5 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 

of  Glass,  and  when  You  write  direct  to  John  Singleton  Copley 
portrait  Painter  in  Cambrige  street  Boston.  I am  Sir  Your 
Most  Obed’t  Humble  Ser’t 

J:  S:  C. 

PROPOSALS  FOR  PRINTING  DR.  SEWELL’S  PORTRAIT 

[Circa  January  25,  1765] 

Proposals  for  executeing  a portrait  of  The  Revd  Doctr  Sewell  in 
Metzotinto  by  John  S.  Copley,  which  he  promises  to  procure 
with  all  convenient  speed  to  be  done  by  the  Ablest  Master  in  Lon- 
don from  a Painting  done  by  himself,  provided  these  his  pro[po]sals 
are  comply’d  with,  Viz:  The  Gentlemen  who  are  desireous  to  for- 
ward the  work  must  subscribe  for  prints  to  the  amount  of  three 
hundred  at  three  shillings  and  four  pence  per  print,  paying  one 
half  for  any  Number  subscribed  for  at  the  time  of  subscribeing, 
the  other  half  at  the  delivery  of  said  prints:  And  upon  Notice  be- 
ing given  by  Advertisement  in  the  publick  prints,  or  said  Copley 
tendering  the  same  to  subscribers.  Yet  notwithstanding  such 
Notice  being  given,  They  the  subscribers  do  Neglect  calling  for 
said  prints  within  three  Months  after  such  notice  being  given  that, 
the  said  Copley  shall  not  be  accountable  to  them  for  any  Moneys 
they  have  paid.  And  that  in  case  the  Picture  should  be  lost  in  go- 
in[g]  to  London,  and  if  in  the  mean  time  The  Father  of  mercys 
should  take  the  Good  Doctor  to  himself,  by  which  means  it  will 
be  impractable  [for]  said  Copley  to  proceed  in  the  Design,  the 
Moneys  paid  by  Subscribers  shall  be  returnd,  said  Copley  deduct- 
ing for  hi[s  labor?]  five  pounds  twelve  shillings  which  is  the  price 
of  said  Picture. 


Copley  to  [ Thomas  Ainslie ] 

Boston,  Feb’y  25,  1765. 
Sir, 

Your  kind  favour  came  safe  to  hand,  but  not  so  soon  as  might 
have  been  expected,  otherwise  I should  sooner  have  made  my 


i76s 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


33 


acknowledgements  for  Your  proferd  kindness,  which  I do  now’ 
with  all  sincerity,  and  should  receive  a singular  pleasure  in  ex- 
cepting, if  my  Business  was  anyways  slack,  but  it  is  so  far 
otherwise  that  I have  a large  Room  full  of  Pictures  unfinishd, 
which  would  ingage  me  these  twelve  months,  if  I did  not  begin 
any  others;  this  renders  it  impossable  for  me  to  leave  the  place 
I am  in:  but  the  obligation  I am  under  I shall  ever  acknowledge 
as  sincerely  as  if  it  was  in  my  power  to  except  of  it.  I assure 
You  I have  been  as  fully  imployd  these  several  Years  past  as  I 
could  expect  or  wish  to  be,  as  more  would  be  a means  to  retard 
the  design  I have  always  had  in  vew,  that  of  improveing  in  that 
charming  Art  w'hich  is  my  delight,  and  gaining  a reputation 
rather  than  a fortune  without  that:  Tho  if  I could  obtain  the 
one  while  in  the  persuit  of  the  other,  I confess  I should  be  so 
far  from  being  indiferent  about  either  that  I would  willingly  use 
great  diligence  for  the  acquireing  of  both,  and  indeed  the  mu- 
tual assistance  they  would  render  each  other  in  their  progress 
must  naturally  excite  in  me  a desire  for  both,  tho  in  diferent 
degrees. 

I confess  it  gives  me  no  small  pleasure  to  receive  the  appro- 
bation of  so  uncorrupted  a judgment  as  that  of  so  Young  a 
Child:  it  is  free  from  all  the  fals  notions  and  impertinant  con- 
ceits that  is  the  result  of  a superficial  knowledge  of  the  princi- 
pals of  art,  which  is  so  far  from  assisting  the  understanding 
that  it  serves  only  to  corrupt  and  mislead  it:  unless  temperd 
with  a large  share  of  good  since:  and  might  tend  to  excite  some 
degree  of  Vanity  did  not  my  diligence  for  Years  past  in  the  study 
of  nature,  most  ef[ec]tually  convince  me  of  this  sad  truth,  that 
all  human  productions  fall  infinitely  short  of  the  bea[u]tys  of 
nature. 

The  favourable  opinion  You  have  of  my  performance  shows 


34 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


1765 


a large  share  of  goodness  in  You,  as  it  is  more  than  I can  pre- 
tend to  deserve  unless  indeavouring  to  do  well  shall  be  ac- 
counted a merrit.  I am,  Sir,  with  all  Sincerity  Your  Obl[i]ged 
Humble  Ser’t  * 

John:  S:  Copley. 

Captain  Peter  Traille  to  Copley 

Halifax,  7th  March,  1765. 

Dear  Sir, 

By  a letter  from  my  freind  Captain  Bruce  I find  my  self  un- 
der great  Obligations  to  You,  particularly  in  sending  a couple 
of  peices  of  your  drawing  in  Crayons.  I am  sorry  to  have  the 
Mortification  to  tell  You  that  You  are  dissappointed  in  your 
good  intentions  by  the  unpardonable  remissness  of  the  Master 
of  the  Vessel.  She  was  lost  about  30  leagues  to  the  westward 
of  this  port,  and  your  drawings,  together  with  several  other 
things,  have  become  the  prey  of  the  barbarous  Inhabitants. 
I have  taken  every  step  to  find  out  if  any  of  them  are  recover- 
able, but  can  hear  only  of  two  of  the  prints  which  were  pur- 
chas’d from  Mr.  Moffat.  I beg  leave,  to  assure  You  that  not 
withstanding  this  Misfortune  my  Gratitude  is  not  lessen’d,  and 
I shall  always  esteem  it  as  a real  Pleasure  to  improve  every  Op- 
portunity of  acknowledging  it.  I cannot  conceal  the  inex- 
pressible pain  this  loss  gives  me,  it  robbing  me  of  those  patterns, 
by  which  I most  sanguinely  flatter’d  me  self  to  acquire  some 
knowledge  in  the  Art  of  colouring  of  which  I have  very  disstant 
Ideas  as  yet.  If  it  was  not  intruding  on  your  Bussiness  I shou’d 
beg  a few  Directions  on  this  favorite  Subject  or  some  illustra- 
tion by  example  as  that  easier  followed  than  precept.  I am  with 
great  regard  Dr.  Sir,  Your  Most  Obed’t  and  Humble  Sev’t 

Peter  Traille. 


t <///* 


f/f>  'rfyt/fUr />/ 

'/tiorrt'  //*<>  srtsWsrtcr/ Any  if' 

> f/tfi  y o,i.n>*J.iVo*b  > fA.  r St (’s/ri/rA. 


1765 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


35 


A Bill  for  a Portrait 1 

Dr  Joseph  Jackson  Esqr.  to  J.  S.  Copley  Cr 

1765  To  one  Portrait  of  his  ) By  an  order  in  J 

Daughter  at  eight  r£n..4..o  favour  of  Wil-  > £9-6-8 
Guineas  ) liam  Miller  j 

By  your  Accot  1-17-4 
Boston  25th  March  1769  £11:4:0 

Errors  Excepted  Per  John  Singleton  Copley. 

Copley  to  [Captain  R.  G.  Bruce]2 

Boston,  Sepr.  10,  1765. 

Dear  Sir, 

I have  sent  You  the  portrait  of  my  Brother3  by  Mr.Haill,4 
who  has  been  so  kind  to  take  the  care  of  it  and  put  it  among  his 
own  baggage.  Nothing  would  have  been  a sufficient  induce- 
ment to  have  sent  it  so  soon  but  the  desire  of  confirming  the 
good  opinion  You  began  to  conceive  of  me  before  You  left 
Boston  which  I would  by  no  means  forfeit,  chusing  rather  to 
risque  the  Picture  than  the  loss  of  Your  esteem;  indeed  I be- 
leive  it  must  be  allowed  I act  with  prudence  in  this  respect  if  it 
is  considered  that  should  the  Picture  be  unfit  (through  the 
changing  of  the  colours)  for  the  exhibition,  I may  not  have  the 
mortification  of  hearing  of  its  being  condemned.  I confess  I am 
under  some  apprehension  of  its  not  being  so  much  esteem’d  as  I 
could  wish;  I dont  say  this  to  induce  You  to  be  backward  in 

1 Boston  Public  Library,  Chamberlain  Collection,  F.  4.  3.  It  is  in  Copley’s 
handwriting. 

* Captain  of  the  John  and  Sukey,  a merchant  vessel. 

• “The  Boy  with  the  Squirrel,”  Copley’s  first  picture  to  be  exhibited  in 
London,  1766. 

4 Mr.  Roger  Hale,  Collector  or  Surveyor  of  the  port  of  London. 


36 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1765 


letting  me  know  how  far  it  is  judged  to  deserve  censure  for  I 
can  truly  say  if  I know  my  own  heart  I am  less  anxious  to  enjoy 
than  deserve  applause. 

I doubt  not  You  have  seen  Our  good  friend  Capt.  Traile1  be- 
fore this  time,  pray  present  my  best  regards  to  him  and  tell 
him  I long  to  hear  from  him. 

Capt.  Jacobson  is  just  arrived  with  the  stamps  which  has 
made  so  much  noise  and  confusion  among  us  Americans.  You 
will  no  doubt  have  heard  before  this  reaches  You  of  poor  Mr. 
Howards 2 House  being  pulld  almost  down  and  all  his  furni- 
ture destroyd  and  himself  with  Doer  Moffatt 3 (whose  house 
and  good  shared  the  same  fate)  and  Mr.  Robinson  being  obliged 
to  save  their  lives  by  flying  on  board  the  Kings  Ship  that  Lay 
in  the  Harbour,  the  Doer  and  Mr.  Howard  are  sence  sail’d  for 
Europe,  But  in  Boston  we  demolishd  the  Lieut.  Govournours 
House,  the  stamp  Office,4  Mr  Storys  5 and  Greatly  damaged 
CaptHollowells  6 and  the  Secretarys 7 Houses,  sence  which  there 
is  a strong  Military  watch  kept  every  night  which  keeps  the 
Town  in  quietness.  I am  Sir  with  all  Sincerity  Your  Real 
Friend  and  Ser’t. 

John:  S:  Copley. 

1 Captain  Peter  Traille. 

5 Martin  Howard,  a lawyer  in  Newport,  whose  house  stood  on  Spring  Street. 
His  offense  was  publishing  two  pamphlets  on  the  rights  of  the  colonies.  Ham- 
mett, Bibliography  of  Newport .,  R.I.,  66. 

3 Dr.  Thomas  Moffat,  of  Broad  Street.  With  the  stamp  master  for  Rhode 
Island,  Augustus  Johnson,  they  were  burned  in  effigy. 

4 A new  building  which  some  supposed  to  be  intended  for  a stamp  office.  2 
Mass.  Hist.  Soc.  Proceedings , x.  61;  Boston  Gazette , September  2,  1765* 

6 William  Story,  Deputy  Registrar  of  the  Court  of  Admiralty. 

6 Benjamin  Hallowell,  Comptroller  of  the  Customs. 

7 Thomas  Flucker  (1719-1783). 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


37 


I766 


/.  Powell  to  Copley 

Lond’n,  18  Octo’r,  1765. 
Sir, 

Herewith  is  Capt.  Scotts  Receipt  for  Two  Cases  of  Frames 
Glasses  etc.  The  Box  of  Craons  I put  Into  Mr.  Powells  Trunk 
shipt  by  Capt  Daveson.  I hope  will  Turn  out  agreeable  as  I 
Took  The  pains  To  Go  To  The  maker.  The  Cost  as  below, 
Capt  Bruce  and  I both  Expected  by  some  of  The  Late  ships  To 
have  seen  your  Brother’s]  Picture  as  an  Exhibision  Peice,  as 
would  have  been  very  agreeable  To  have  Introduced  You  To 
The  Knowledge  of  some  of  your  Bror.  Artists  here.  I am  with 
Esteem  yrs. 

J.  Powell, 


@ Box  Cloths  2.  7 

@ Box  Craons  15 

@ Case  of  Frames  and  Glasses.  6.  5 
po[r]teridge  & shipg  3.  6 


£ 9.10.  6 

Peter  [Pelham?]  1 to  Copley 

Barbados,  April  28th.  1766. 

My  dear  Friend, 

It  is  with  a Sensible  Pleasure  that  I set  myself  down  to  write 
to  a Friend  whom  I ever  lov’d  & esteem’d  and  in  whose  Com- 
pany I have  enjoy’d  so  many  pleasing  hours.  I hope  you  did 
not  take  it  amiss  that  I left  you  so  abruptly  the  morning  I sail’d 
from  Boston.  But  give  me  leave  to  say  that  when  I whisper’d 
to  you  I imagined  you  would  take  the  hint,  and  follow  close 

1 Probably  the  son  of  Copley’s  stepbrother  of  the  same  name.  Copley’s 
reply  to  this  letter  is  printed  on  p.  47,  infra . 


38 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


17  66 


after  me  for  I did  not  intend  to  return  into  my  Father’s  and 
sisters  presence  again.  I should  read  over  and  over  again  any 
even  the  shortest  Letter  I could  receive  from  you,  and  should 
have  wrote  to  you  before  this,  but  I have  been  engaged  in  Busi- 
ness and  writing  to  my  Father,  and  Sisters  and  those  friends  in 
Boston  who  favour’d  me  with  letters,  and  must  say  I was  not  a 
little  disappointed  when  I look’d  over  my  Packet  of  Letters 
I receiv’d  from  Boston  and  heard  nothing  either  of  you  or  from 
you. 

I will  say  it  because  my  Heart  bears  me  witness  that,  let  me 
forget  whomsoever  of  my  Friends,  I will  that  Mr.  Copley  shall 
not  be  obliterated  from  my  Remembrance.  Your  honest,  Droll 
and  pleasant  Brother  Charles  did  me  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the 
last  of  me  in  Boston,  and  amus’d  me,  and  several  of  my  hearty 
Friends  in  the  ships  Cabbin  till  we  Cast  off  from  the  wharff.  If 
he  is  with  you  please  to  make  my  Compliments  and  best  regards 
acceptable  to  him  as  also  my  kindest  respects,  affection,  and 
regard  to  your  very  worthy  mama  of  whom  I retain  the  most 
pleasing  remembrance,  and  most  devoutly  wish  she  could  enjoy 
only  one  twentieth  part  of  the  Health  that  I partake  of.  Please 
to  remember  me  to  your  ingenious  little  Brother  Harry  whom 
I expect  to  see  in  a very  respectable  situation  of  Life  by  and  by, 
owing  to  your  great  Care  and  Brotherly  Love;  also  my  Com- 
pliments and  best  regards  to  Mr.  Pelham  and  Respects  to  the 
honble  Family  wherein  he  resides,  more  Compliments  etc  — 
Vizt.  Compliments,  best  wishes  and  regards  you’l  please  to  pre- 
sent in  myname  to  my  worthy  Friends  Messrs.  Winthrop,  Prout 
and  Lady,  Miss  Gerrish;  Henderson  and  Lady,  Shepherd  and 
Lady,  and  all  those  by  name  whom  you  knew  I lov'd  and  es- 
teem’d. I am  now  on  the  Island  of  Barbados  alias  Garden  of 
Eden,  and  while  you  my  friend  have  been  pinch’d  with  as  severe 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


39 


1766 


a Winter  as  ever  was  known,  I have  been  enjoying  the  blessed- 
est  Weather  and  the  most  enchanting  scenes  human  imagina- 
tion can  paint.  If  I was  plagued  at  Boston  it  is  all  made  up  to 
me  in  the  enjoyment  of  my  Health,  and  of  every  Pleasure  that 
my  heart  can  wish.  When  I saild  from  Boston  I had  no  more 
intentions  of  tarrying  between  the  Tropicks  than  I now  have 
of  going  to  China,  or  to  visit  the  Ruins  of  Rome,  and  Palmyra. 
But  in  short  I meet  with  everything  so  agreable  here,  and  such 
a Chance  of  making  well  for  myself  in  life,  that  I think  I cannot 
in  justice  to  myself  return  at  least  this  year;  if  I should  it  will 
be  only  to  settle  my  affairs,  and  return  here  immediately. 

It  is  well  known  of  me  that  I did  not  launch  out  of  my  Coun- 
try in  order  to  get  Business,  because  I not  only  had  (very  often) 
more  than  my  share,  but  was  every  day  increasing  it.  But  I 
doubt  not  but  you  ’1  join  with  me  in  opinion  that  that  is  our 
Country  where  we  can  live  most  happily.  I can  live  infinitely 
more  happy  here  (absence  of  my  dear  Friends,  and  old  Acquain- 
tance excepted)  than  I can  in  my  own  Country,  the  Weather 
being  pleasant  beyond  Discription,  and  not  so  hot  even  in  the 
hottest  season  as  with  you;  the  People  hospitable  and  generous 
to  a Fault,  and  the  most  polite,  polish’d  and  gentile  of  any  I 
ever  saw  before. 

It  is  with  Difficulty  my  dear  friend  that  a man  can  get  away 
from  the  Country  where  he  receiv’d  his  birth  and  Education; 
but  when  he  has  once  broke  the  spell,  and  goes  out  into  the 
World  he  sees  things  that  he  never  could  see  in  his  Father’s 
Chimney  Comer,  and  has  an  oppertunity  of  making  a Fortune 
if  he  is  commonly  prudent.  I could  wish  you  was  here  most  de- 
voutly for  the  Climate  would  suit  your  Constitution,  and  In- 
terest, I would  not  give  Mr.  Copley  more  than  ten  years  to  put 
himself  in  his  Chariot  and  four  could  he  come  here.  There  is 


40 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


17  66 


but  one  painter  here  and  he  has  a prodigious  run,  and  paints  so 
admirably  that  I talk  of  leaving  my  abode  in  the  Country,  and 
taking  a Room  in  one  of  the  Publick  Towns,  and  set  up  Portrait 
painting  in  Opposition  to  him,  and  doubt  not  I could  excell  him 
if  my  Charcoal  was  good. 

I live  in  splendor  here  Vizt.  at  the  Chief  Justice’s  House  who 
does  me  the  Honour  to  profess  himself  my  fast  Friend  and  who 
will  not  stir  from  home  even  to  take  an  Airing  without  me. 
This,  with  the  Letters  I carried  from  Boston,  and  those  the 
polite  Govemour  Scott 1 of  Dominica  has  been  pleas’d  to  send 
me,  has  been  sufficient  to  introduce  me  into  all  the  polite  Com- 
pany of  this  Island,  so  that  I have  neither  friends  to  make  or 
Connections  to  form  if  I incline  to  tarry. 

It  would  give  me  pleasure  to  hear  from  you  as  often  as  you 
possibly  can,  and  when  you  write  please  (under  the  Rose)  to  let 
me  know  how  my  father  and  sisters  took  my  slipping  away 
from  ’em  that  morning,  and  how  they  bear  my  absence.  I hope 
you  visit  ’em.  Please  to  take  care  of  my  dear  Sisters.  I do  not 
beleive  I could  love  any  man  that  did  not  regard  and  assist 
them,  should  they  stand  in  need  of  it.  I know  not  what  is  be- 
come of  you  all  at  Boston.  I never  hear  from  any  of  my  friends 
there.  I hope  they  han’t  forgot  me.  Farewell.  God  bless  you, 
my  dear  Friend,  you  see  I have  only  room  to  assure  you  that  I 
am  most  unfeignedly  and  sincerely  yours 

Peter. 

[Addressed:]  To  Mr.  John  Singleton  Copley  at  his  Seat  near 
St.  James  Square,  London  Place,  in  Boston,  New  England. 

1 George  Scott,  Lieutenant  Governor,  1763-1768. 


1766  Copley -Pelham  Letters  41 


Captain  R.  G . Bruce  to  Copley 

London,  4th  August,  1766. 

D’r  Copley, 

Dont  imagine  I have  forgot  or  neglected  your  Interest  by  my 
long  Silence.  I have  delayed  writing  to  You  ever  since  the  Ex- 
hibition, in  order  to  forward  the  inclosed  Letter  from  Mr.  West,1 
which  he  has  from  time  to  time  promised  me,  but  which  his  ex- 
treme Application  to  his  Art  has  hitherto  prevented  his  finish- 
ing. 

What  he  says  will  be  much  more  conclusive  to  You  than 
anything  from  me.  I have  only  to  add  the  general  Opinions 
which  were  pronounced  on  your  Picture  when  it  was  exhibited. 
It  was  universally  allowed  to  be  the  best  Picture  of  its  kind  that 
appeared  on  that  occasion,  but  the  sentiments  of  Mr.  Reynolds, 
will,  I suppose,  weigh  more  with  You  than  those  of  other  Crit- 
icks.  He  says  of  it,  “that  in  any  Collection  of  Painting  it  will 
pass  for  an  excellent  Picture,  but  considering  the  Disadvan- 
tages’’ I told  him  “you  had  laboured  under,  that  it  was  a very 
wonderjull  Performance .”  “That  it  exceeded  any  Portrait 
that  Mr.  West  ever  drew.”  “That  he  did  not  know  one  Painter 
at  home,  who  had  all  the  Advantages  that  Europe  could  give 
them,  that  could  equal  it,  and  that  if  you  are  capable  of  pro- 
ducing such  a Piece  by  the  mere  Efforts  of  your  own  Genius, 
with  the  advantages  of  the  Example  and  Instruction  which  you 
could  have  in  Europe,  You  would  be  a valuable  Acquisition 
to  the  Art,  and  one  of  the  first  Painters  in  the  World*  provided 
you  could  receive  these  Aids  before  it  was  too  late  in  Life,  and 
before  your  Manner  and  Taste  were  corrupted  or  fixed  by 
working  in  your  little  way  at  Boston.  He  condemns  your  work- 

1 Benjamin  West. 


42 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


17  66 


in g either  in  Crayons  or  Water  Colours.”  Dont  imagine  I flat- 
ter You.  I only  repeat  Mr.  Reynolds’s  words,  which  are  con- 
firmed by  the  publick  Voice.  He,  indeed,  is  a mere  Enthusiast 
when  he  speaks  of  You.  At  the  same  time  he  found  Faults. 
He  observed  a little  Hardness  in  the  Drawing,  Coldness  in  the 
Shades,  An  over  minuteness,  all  which  Example  would  correct. 
“But  still,”  he  added,  “ it  is  a wonderful  Picture  to  be  sent  by  a 
Young  Man  who  was  never  out  of  New  England,  and  had  only 
some  bad  Copies  to  study.”  I have  beg’d  of  Mr.  West  to  be 
copious  in  his  Criticisms  and  Advices  to  You.  Mr.  Reynolds 
would  have  also  wrote  to  You  himself  but  his  time  is  too  valu- 
able. The  Picture  is  at  his  House  where  I shall  leave  it  till  I 
have  your  Directions  how  to  dispose  of  it.  I could  sell  it  to  ad- 
vantage, but  it  is  thought  more  for  your  Interest  to  keep  it  as 
a Specimen.  You  are  greatly  obliged  to  Lord  Cardross,1  a 
Friend  of  mine,  to  whom  I first  sent  it.  He  showed  it  to  the 
most  eminent  Conniseurs,  then  gave  it  to  Mr.  Reynolds,  who 
sent  it  with  his  own  Pictures  to  the  Exhibition.  You  are  best 
Judge  of  your  own  Affairs,  and  whether  you  can  with  propriety 
accomplish  a Trip  for  a few  Years  to  Europe.  Should  you  take 
that  Resolution,  I believe  I may  venture  to  assure  You,  that 
You  will  meet  with  much  Encouragment  and  Patronage. 
Should  it  be  in  my  little  power  to  be  of  the  least  use  to  You, 
you  may  command  me  to  the  utmost.  I am  already  very  happy 
in  having  contributed  to  make  your  Merit  so  far  known  to  the 
World,  and  hope  it  has  laid  the  Foundation  of  your  being  the 
great  Man  Mr.  Reynolds  prognosticates. 

I am  obliged  to  write  this  in  a very  great  hurry  as  I set  out 
tomorrow  on  a Visit  to  Scotland.  Pray  remember  me  to  my 
old  Acquaintances  at  Boston.  I have  wrote  to  Mr.  Scollay  2 
1 Title  of  the  Erskines.  2 John  Scollay. 


43 


1766  Copley-Pelham  Letters 

and  Mrs.  Melville.1  You  have  already  my  Direction,  and  I 
shall  expect  to  hear  from  You.  Perhaps  I may  see  you  in  Bos- 
ton next  Year,  but  that  at  present  is  uncertain. 

I had  almost  forgot  to  tell  You,  that  in  case  you  dont  appear 
yourself,  the  Friends  of  your  Art  wish  that  you  will  paint 
another  Picture  to  exhibit  next  Year,  and  Mr.  West  has  prom- 
ised to  point  out  a Subject  to  You.  Should  you  do  so,  send  it  to 
Mr.  West  who  seems  sincerely  disposed  to  be  your  Friend.  Mr. 
Reynolds  is  too  busy  and  too  great  a Man  to  be  active  for  You, 
tho  he  is  also  much  disposed  to  serve  You. 

I have  now  a Favour  to  beg  of  You  in  turn,  which  is,  that 
you  will  make  me  a Copy  of  my  Picture  I left  with  Mrs.  Mel- 
ville. I hope  this  will  find  You  and  your  Familly  well, — And 
either  in  Europe  or  America  assure  your  self  of  my  sincere 
Friendship  while  I am 

R.  G.  Bruce.2 


Benjamin  West  to  Copley 

London,  August  4th,  1766. 
Sir, 

On  Seeing  a Picture  painted  by  you  and  meeting  with  Cap- 
tain Bruce,  I take  the  liberty  of  writeing  to  you.  The  great 
Honour  the  Picture  has  gaind  you  hear  in  the  art  of  Painting  I 
dare  say  must  have  been  made  known  to  You  Long  before  this 
Time,  and  as  Your  have  made  So  great  a Progr[e]ss  in  the  art 
I am  Persuaded  You  are  the  more  desierous  of  hearing  the 
remarks  that  might  have  been  made  by  those  of  the  Profession, 
and  as  I am  hear  in  the  Midst  of  the  Painting  world  have  the 
greater  oppertunity  of  hearing  them.  Your  Picture  first  fell  into 

1 Probably  wife  of  Thomas  Melville. 

* The  letter  was  addressed  to  Mr.  William  Copley  — Boston. 


44 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


17  66 


Mr.  Reynolds’  hands  to  have  it  Put  into  the  Exhibition  as  the 
Proformanc  of  a Young  American:  he  was  Greatly  Struck  with 
the  Piec,  and  it  was  first  Concluded  to  have  been  Painted  by 
one  Mr.  Wright,1  a young  man  that  has  just  made  his  appear- 
ance in  the  art  in  a sirprising  Degree  of  Merritt,  as  Your  Name 
was  not  given  with  the  Picture  it  was  Concluded  a mistake,  but 
before  the  Exhibition  opened  the  Perticulers  was  recevd  from 
Capt.  Bruce,  while  it  was  Excibited  to  View  the  Criticizems 
was,  that  at  first  Sight  the  Picture  struck  the  Eye  as  being  to 
liney,  which  was  judgd  to  have  arose  from  there  being  so  much 
neetness  in  the  lines,  which  indeed  as  fare  as  I was  Capable  of 
judgeing  was  some  what  the  Case,  for  I very  well  know  from 
endevouring  at  great  Correctness  in  ones  out  line  it  is  apt  to 
Produce  a Poverty  in  the  look  of  ones  work,  when  ever  great 
Desition  [decision]  is  attended  to  they  lines  are  apt  to  be  to  fine 
and  edgey.  This  is  a thing  in  works  of  great  Painter[s]  I have 
remarked]  has  been  strictly  a voyded,  and  have  given  Correct- 
ness in  a breadth  of  out  line,  which  is  finishing  out  into  the 
Canves  by  no  determind  line  when  Closely  examined ; tho  when 
seen  at  a short  distanc,  as  when  one  looks  at  a Picture,  shall 
appear  with  the  greatest  Bewty  and  freedom,  for  in  nature 
every  thing  is  Round,  or  at  least  Partakes  the  most  of  that 
forme  which  makes  it  imposeble  that  Nature,  when  seen  in  a 
light  and  shade,  can  ever  appear  liney. 

As  we  have  every  April  an  Exhibition  where  our  works  is 
exhibitied  to  the  Publick,  I advise  you  to  Paint  a Picture  of  a 
half  figure  or  two  in  one  Piec,  of  a Boy  and  Girle,  or  any  other 
subject  you  may  fancy.  And  be  shure  take  your  Subjects 
from  Nature  as  you  did  in  your  last  Piec,  and  dont  trust  any 

1 Joseph  Wright  (i734-i797)>  who  first  exhibited  in  London  in  1765.  Not  to 
be  confused  with  Joseph  Wright  (1756-1793),  son  of  Patience  Wright. 


1766 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


45 


resemblanc  of  any  thing  to  fancey,  except  the  dispositions  of 
they  figures  and  they  ajustments  of  Draperies,  So  as  to  make  an 
agreable  whole,  for  in  this  Consists  the  work  of  fencey  and 
Test  [taste]. 

If  you  should  do  anything  of  this  kind,  I begg  you  may  send 
it  to  me,  when  you  may  be  shure  it  shall  have  the  greatest  jus- 
tice done  it.  lett  it  be  Painted  in  oil,  and  make  it  a rule  to 
Paint  in  that  way  as  much  as  Posible,  for  Oil  Painting  has  the 
superiority  over  all  other  Painting.  As  I am  from  America,  and 
know  the  little  Opertunities  is  to  be  had  their  in  they  way  of 
Painting,  made  the  inducement  the  more  in  writeing  to  you  in 
this  manner,  and  as  you  have  got  to  that  lenght  in  the  art  that 
nothing  is  wanting  to  Perfect  you  now  but  a Sight  of  what  has 
been  done  by  the  great  Masters,  and  if  you  Could  make  a viset 
to  Europe  for  this  Porpase  for  three  or  four  years,  you  would 
find  yourself  then  in  Possession  of  what  will  be  highly  valuable, 
if  ever  you  should  make  a viset  to  Europe  you  may  depend  on 
my  friendship  in  eny  way  thats  in  my  Power  to  Sarve. 

Your  Friend  and  Humble  Servent, 

B.  West. 

my  direction  is  Castle  Street  Leicester  Fields. 

[Addressed]  To  Mr  William  Copley  Painter  at  Boston 

[Endorsed]  forwarded  by  Your  Humbl  Servt  J.  Loring.1 

Francis  M . Newton  to  Copley 

Sir, 

I am  directed  to  acquaint  you  that  on  the  2d  of  Sepr.  you 
was  Elected  a Fellow  of  the  Society  of  Artists  of  Great  Britain. 

Your  attendance  is  therefore  desired  at  the  Turks  Head 

1 Joshua  Loring? 


46 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


17  66 


Tavern  in  Gerrard  Street,  Soho,1  on  Monday  the  6th  of  Octr 
next  at  Six  OClock  in  the  Evening  in  order  to  be  regularly 
admitted.  I am  Sir  Your  Very  Humble  Servt. 

F.  M.  Newton  Secy  2 

Sept.  3rd:  1766. 

[Addressed.]  To  Mr.  Wm.  Copley  of  Boston  in  New  England.3 
[Endorsed]  Octr.  13,  1767. 


James  Scott  to  Copley 

Dr.  Sir, 

This  Informs  you  of  my  Arrivall  in  London.  I have  got  the 
portrait  safe  home,  it  gives  great  satisfn. 

I Expect  I shall  Sail  the  first  week  in  Octr.  I believe  I Cannot 
posibly  get  your  order  Executed,  before  I sail  Myself.  My 
Brother  is  out  of  Town,  180  miles  from  London,  and  Engag’d 
all  the  winter;  but  however,  I will  not  fail  to  Get  some  Able 
Hand  to  purchase  for  me  all  the  Articles  that  requires  inspec- 
tion, beyond  my  Judgment. 

I hope  You  are  well  and  am  with  Respect  Your  Hble 
Servt 

James  Scott. 

5th  Septr.,  1766,  London. 

1 The  Turk’s  Head  was  originally  in  Greek  Street,  and  towards  the  middle 
of  the  eighteenth  century  removed  to  Gerrard  Street.  It  was  the  headquarters 
for  the  Loyal  Association  during  the  rebellion  of  1745,  and  after  1764  John- 
son’s Club  held  its  meetings  there.  Notes  and  Queries , 1.  114. 

* Francis  Milner  Newton  (1720-1794),  a portrait  painter.  He  was  Secretary 
of  the  “Incorporated  Society  of  Artists  of  Great  Britain,”  and  later  of  the 
“Royal  Academy,”  a seceding  body.  See  Dictionary  of  National  Biography , xl. 

367* 

3 Copley  erased  the  word  Wm.,  and  wrote  J:  S:  above  it.  Copley’s  reply  is 
dated  November  23,  1767. 


1766 


Copley  •‘Pelham  Letters 


47 


Copley  to  Peter  [Pelham] 

Boston,  Sepr.  12,  1766. 

Dear  Sir, 

The  receipt  of  Your  kind  favour  of  April  the  28  1 gave  me  the 
most  sensable  pleasure,  as  it  confirm’d  me  in  the  opinion  I 
always  had  that  the  tour  You  proposed  would  be  attended  with 
great  advantage,  both  to  Your  helth  as  well  as  to  Your  purse. 
I most  sincerely  wish  You  a long  continuance  of  every  worldly 
Blessing.  You  have  at  present  Your  helth,  are  in  a fine  Cli- 
mate, and  are  geting  Money;  those  are  Blessings  that  must 
smooth  the  ruget  path  of  life  and  make  it  irksome  to  leave  the 
World. 

You  are  likly  soon  to  be  in  a fair  way  of  making  Your  fortune. 
You  have  many  good  f rinds  about  You  and  as  our  friend 
Shakespear  says,  that  which  seasons  all  unfisickd  helth.  if  this 
is  the  happy  effect  of  leaving  ones  native  Country,  is  it  not 
strange  any  one  should  ever  submit  to  the  shackels  which 
deprive  him  of  such  great  Blessing[s].  especily  when  a little 
resolution  would  break  em  off.  but  this  You  will  perhaps  think 
strange  doctrine  to  come  from  one  Who  is  at  this  present,  in 
spite  of  evry  propose[d]  advantage,  tamely  submiting  to  the 
Yowke  he  thinks  so  easyly  shook  off.  but  my  friend  You  know 
my  Bondage  (if  you  seriously  consider)  is  of  a much  more  bind- 
ing nature  than  the  tie  of  Country.  Your  invitation  to  Bar- 
bados and  incouragement  come  with  much  more  force,  as  it 
should  at  the  same  time  I made  my  fortune,  give  an  oppertu- 
nity  of  injoy[ing]  Your  company.  But  beleive  me,  Dear  Peter, 
when  I can  get  disingage[d]  from  this  frosen  region,  I shall  take 
my  flight  to  Europe,  where  tho  I shall  not  find  the  warmth  You 

1 Page  37,  supra. 


48 


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17  66 


injoy  in  Barbados,  I shall  feel  a much  enlivening  one.  I shall 
there  be  heated  with  the  sight  of  the  enchanting  Works  of  a 
Raphael,  a Rubens,  Corregio  and  a Veronese,  etc.,  etc.  here 
give  me  leave  to  acquaint  You,  as  You  was  privy  to  my  sending 
the  portrait  of  my  Brother  to  the  exibition,  that  it  was  received 
into  the  Collection,  and  as  I am  inform [ed]  by  severall  who  saw 
it,  and  by  letters  to  the  Surveyer  1 and  others,  for  I have  not 
yet  [heard]  from  Capt.  Bruce,  it  was  much  approved,  and  such 
handsom  things  said  of  it  that  my  Modesty  would  not  permit 
me  repeat  one  of  them  but  to  You,  who  I have  a better  oppinion 
off,  than  to  think  it  would  be  made  any  use  of  to  my  disad- 
vantage. a Gentleman  writes  to  his  friend  in  Rhode  Island  that 
none  but  the  Works  of  the  first  Masters  were  ranked  with  it. 
and  flatter  myself  you  know  me  too  well  to  suspect  the  rep[et]i- 
tion  arrises  so  much  from  Vanity,  as  a just  sene  of  the  Duty  I 
owe  to  Your  friendship,  what  I owe  to  Your  friendship,  this  is 
an  incouragement  to  me  I confess,  and  adds  new  Vigeour  to  the 
pencil.  I have  som  foundation  to  build  upon,  some  more  sure 
prospect  of  attaining  what  has  cost  me  so  many  hours  of  severe 
study,  and  given  me  resolution  anough  to  live  a batchelor  to  the 
age  of  twenty  eight.2  however,  I dont  dispair,  but  I shall  be 
Married  as  I find  Mericle[s]  have  not  ceas’d,  as  You  must 
acknowledge  when  I assure  You  Mr  P: 3 is  Married  to  P[olly] 
T[yler]  has  bot  a farm  at  New  Town  and  there  set  Down  for  life. 

Your  Hond.  Father  and  Sister  much  long  to  see  you  and  took 
not  amiss  no  more  than  my  self  You[r]  sudden  Departure.  I am 
Dear  Peter  Your  Sincere  friend  and  Sert. 

J.  S.  C. 

1 Roger  Hale. 

2 This  would  show  that  he  was  born  in  1738,  and  not  in  1737,  as  usually 
stated.  The  Boston  Records  contain  no  entry  of  his  birth  or  baptism. 

3 Charles  Pelham. 


1766 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


49 


Copley  to  Benjamin  West 

Boston,  Octr.  13,  1766. 
Sir, 

I can  by  no  means  let  this  first  oppertunity  slip  without 
making  my  acknowledgements  to  You  for  Your  favourable 
Oppinion  of  the  small  portrait  I sent  to  the  exibition  the  last 
Year,  and  Your  kind  offer  of  obliging  me  in  any  thing  in  Your 
power,  which  I heard  by  way  of  My  good  friend  Mr.  Powell. 
This  testamony  of  Your  goodness,  as  I thot  it  unmerited  so  it 
was  altogether  unexpected,  and  has  my  most  gratefull  acknowl- 
edgements. I assure  You  when  my  Friend  Mr.  Powell  told  me 
of  Your  intention  of  wrighting,  I could  not  forbear  thinking 
hard  he  did  not  wcit  on  You  at  the  time  of  his  coming  away,  as 
it  would  have  given  me  the  greatest  pleasure  immaginable  to 
have  had  a letter  from  One  of  whom  I entertain  so  high  an 
oppinion,  as  an  artist  ingaged  in  the  same  studys  with  myself, 
and  esteem  as  my  Country  man,  from  whom  America  receives 
the  Same  Luster  that  Italy  does  from  her  Titiano  and  Divine 
Raphael. 

It  seems  almost  needless  to  say  how  great  my  desire  is  to 
enter  into  a corraspondance  with  You,  as  it  is  very  obvious  that 
the  pleasure  and  advantages  would  be  very  great  on  my  side, 
and  I doubt  not  the  same  benevolent  disposition,  that  prompd 
You  to  express  Your  kindness  for  me,  will  incline  You  to  add 
to  my  happyness  by  promoting  that  friendly  intercourse. 

As  a compliance  with  Your  desire  will  be  ever  pleasing  to  me, 
I shall  not  fail  transmiting  another  small  Picture  for  the  exibi- 
tion, which  give  me  leave  to  trouble  You  with,  as  the  stay  of 
my  friend  Capt  [Bruce]  (to  whose  care  I commited  the  last)  in 
London  is  altogether  uncertain,  and  I have  no  friend  else  that  I 


5° 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


17  66 


am  certain  would  give  themselves  the  trouble  of  sending  it  to 
the  exibition,  unless  You  will  be  kind  anough  to  take  that 
trouble  upon  Your  self,  which  will  greatly  Oblige  him,  who  with 
great  pleasure  shall  allways  as  at  this  time  subscribe  himself 
Your  Obliged  friend  and  Humble  Ser’t 

J.  S.  C. 

Copley  to  Benjamin  West 


Boston,  Novr.  12,  1766. 

Sir, 

Your  kind  favour  of  Augst.  4,  1766,  came  to  hand.  It  gave 
me  great  pleasure  to  receive  without  reserve  Your  Criticisms 
on  the  Picture  I sent  to  the  Exibition.  Mr.  Powell  informd  me 
of  Your  intention  of  wrighting,  and  the  handsom  things  You 
was  pleas’d  say  in  praise  of  that  little  performance,  which  has 
increased  my  estamation  of  it,  and  demands  my  thanks  which 
previous  to  the  receipt  of  Your  favour  I acknowledged  in  a letter 
forwarded  by  Mr.  Powell.  It  was  remarkd  the  Picture  was  too 

lind.  this  I confess  I was  concious  of  my  self  and  think  with 
You  that  it  is  the  natural  result  of  two  great  presition  in  the  out 

line,  which  in  my  next  Picture  I will  indeavour  to  avoid,  and 
perhaps  should  not  have  fallen  into  it  in  that,  had  I not  felt  two 
great  timerity  at  presenting  a Picture  to  the  inspection  of  the 
first  artists  in  the  World,  and  where  it  was  to  come  into  compe- 
tition with  such  masterly  performancess  as  generally  appear  in 
that  Collection.  In  my  last  I promis’d  to  send  another  peace, 
the  subject  You  have  sence  pointed  out,  but  I fear  it  will  not  be 
in  my  power  to  comply  with  Your  design,  the  time  being  two 
short  for  the  exicution  of  two  figures,  not  having  it  in  my 
power  to  spend  all  my  time  on  it,  and  the  Days  short  and 
weither  cold,  and  I must  ship  it  by  the  middle  of  Feby.  at 
farthest,  otherwise  it  will  come  too  late  for  the  exibition.  but  I 


1766 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


51 


shall  do  somthing  near  what  you  propose.  Your  c[a]utioning 
me  against  doing  anything  from  fancy  I take  very  kind,  being 
sensable  of  the  necessity  of  attending  to  Nature  as  the  fountain 
head  of  all  perfection,  and  the  works  of  the  great  Masters  as  so 
many  guides  that  lead  to  the  more  perfect  imitation  of  her, 
pointing  out  to  us  in  what  she  is  to  be  coppied,  and  where  we 
should  deviate  from  her.  In  this  Country  as  You  rightly 
observe  there  is  no  examples  of  Art,  except  what  is  to  [be]  met 
with  in  a few  prints  indiferently  exicuted,  from  which  it  is  not 
possable  to  learn  much,  and  must  greatly  inhanch  the  Value  of 
free  and  unreserved  Criticism  made  with  judgment  and  Candor. 

It  would  give  me  inexpressable  pleasure  to  make  a trip  to 
Europe,  where  I should  see  those  fair  examples  of  art  that  have 
stood  so  long  the  admiration  of  all  the  world,  the  Paintings, 
Sculptors  and  Basso  Releivos  that  adourn  Italy,  and  which 
You  have  had  the  pleasure  of  making  Your  Studies  from  would, 
I am  sure,  annimate  my  pencil,  and  inable  me  to  acquire  that 
bold  free  and  gracefull  stile  of  Painting  that  will,  if  ever,  come 
much  slower  from  the  mere  dictates  of  Nature,  which  has  hither 
too  been  my  only  instructor.  I was  allmost  tempted  the  last 
year  to  take  a tour  to  Philadelphia,  and  that  chiefly  to  see  some 
of  Your  Pictures,  which  I am  informd  are  there.  I think  myself 
peculiarly  unlucky  in  Liveing  in  a place  into  which  there  has 
not  been  one  portrait  brought  that  is  worthy  to  be  call’d  a 
Picture  within  my  memory,  which  leaves  me  at  a great  loss  to 
gess  the  stile  that  You,  Mr.  Renolds,  and  the  other  Artists 
pracktice.  I shall  be  glad  when  you  write  next  you  will  be  more 
explicit  on  the  article  of  Crayons,  and  why  You  dis[ap]prove 
the  use  of  them,  for  I think  my  best  portraits  done  in  that  way. 
and  be  kind  anough  to  inform  me  what  Count  Allgarotti1 
1 Francesco,  Count  Algarotti  (1712-1764),  author  of  Letters  upon  Painting. 


52 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


!767 


means  by  the  five  points  that  he  recommends  for  amusement 
and  to  assist  the  invention  of  postures,  and  weither  any  prints 
after  Corregios  or  Titianos  are  to  be  purchased.  I fear  I shall 
tire  Your  patience  and  mak  you  repent  your  wrighting  to  one 
who  makes  so  many  requests  in  one  letter. 

But  I shall  be  exceeding  glad  to  know  in  general  what  the 
present  state  of  Painting  in  Italy  is,  weither  the  Living  Masters 
are  excellent  as  the  Dead  have  been,  it  is  not  possable  my 
curiossity  can  be  sattisfied  in  this  by  any  Body  but  Yourself, 
not  having  any  corraspondance  with  any  whose  judgment  is 
sufficent  to  sattisfy  me.  I have  been  painting  the  head  of  a 
Decenting  Cleargyman  and  his  friends  are  desireous  to  sub- 
scribe for  it  to  be  scraped  in  mezzotinto  in  the  common  size  of 
14  inches  by  ten,  but  I cannot  give  them  the  terms  till  I know 
the  price.  I shall  take  it  kind  if  when  you  see  any  artist  that 
You  approve  You  menshon  it  to  him,  and  Let  me  know.  I have 
seen  a well  exicuted  print  by  Mr.  Pether  1 of  a Jew  Rabbi,  if 
You  think  him  a good  hand,  be  kind  anough  to  desire  him  to  let 
me  know  by  a few  lines  (as  soon  as  convenient)  his  terms,  as  the 
portrait  weits  only  for  that  in  my  hands,  and  I shall  send  it 
immediately  with  the  mony  to  defray  the  expence  when  I know 
what  it  is. 

I am  Sir  with  all  Sincerity  Your  friend  and  Humble  Sert. 

J : S : Copley. 

Captain  R.  G.  Bruce  to  Copley 

London,  nth  June,  1767. 

Dear  Copley, 

I have  received  your  two  Letters  of  the  16th  and  18th  of 
Febry.  last,  but  the  former  Letter  you  refer  me  to  I have  never 

1 William  Pether  (i738?-i82i).  His  “Jewish  Rabbi”  appeared  in  1764. 


1767 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


53 


received,  so  that  I am  quite  at  a loss  how  to  dispose  of  the 
Picture  which  was  exhibited  last  Year. 

I am  greatly  obliged  to  You  for  the  Portrait  you  have  sent 
me.  I have  but  just  got  it,  as  it  was  detained  at  the  Custom 
House,  and  I had  some  difficulty,  as  well  as  Expence,  to  recover 
it;  which  made  it  unlucky  that  you  did  not  send  it,  with  the 
other,  to  Mr.  Hale.  I have  not  yet  seen  it,  the  Box  not  being 
opened,  as  Mr.  West  has  desired  it  may  be  sent  to  him,  that 
he  may  see  your  Performance  in  Crayons. 

Your  Picture  arrived  just  in  time  for  the  Exhibition,  and  Mr. 
West  did  it  all  Justice,  having  the  principal  Direction  of  placing 
the  Pictures  there.  I have  been  assiduous  to  collect  the  Con- 
noiseur’s  Opinions  of  your  last  Exhibition.  Mr  West  will  tell 
You  his  in  the  Letter  which  I herewith  send  You;  and  the  gen- 
eral opinion  of  the  Society  of  Artists  you  may  judge  of  by  their 
Electing  You  a Member;  their  vote  for  which  I also  herewith 
send  You.  The  general  opinion  was  that  the  Drawing  and  Ex- 
ecution exceeded  the  last,  and  some  went  so  far  as  to  say  it  was 
the  best  Portrait  in  the  Room  in  point  of  Execution;  but  you 
have  been  universally  condemned  in  the  choice  of  your  Subject, 
which  is  so  disagreable  a Character,  as  to  have  made  the  Picture 
disliked  by  every  one  but  the  best  Judges  who  could  discern  the 
Excellence  of  the  Painting;  so  that  it  has  not  so  universally 
pleased  as  last  years  Picture.  I ’m  astonished  that  you  should 
have  suffered  [Mr.  Powel’s  vanity]1  to  lead  you  into  such  an 
error.  I waited  on  Mr.  Rennolds  on  purpose  to  get  his  opinion, 
as  of  more  Consequence  than  all  the  rest.  He  exclaimed  against 
the  Subject,  but  approved  of  the  Painting,  and  perseveres  in 
his  Opinion  that  you  only  want  Example  to  be  one  of  the  first 
Painters  in  the  World.  He  dislikes  your  Shades;  he  says  they 

1 The  words  in  brackets  have  been  erased  and  are  almost  illegible. 


54 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1767 


want  Life  and  Transparency.  He  says  “your  Drawing  is  won- 
derfully correct,  but  that  a something  is  wanting  in  your  Col- 
ouring.” I begd  him  to  explain  it,  that  I might  communicate  it 
to  You,  but  he  told  me  “that  it  was  impossible  to  convey  what 
he  meant  by  Words,  but  that  he  was  sure  (by  what  you  have 
already  produced)  he  could  make  you  instantly  feel  it  by 
Example,  if  you  was  here.” 

You  have  his  own  words  and  may  therefore  judge  what  use 
to  make  of  them.  If  you  do  not  come  over  Yourself  I hope 
you  will  still  continue  to  exhibit,  and  establish  a Reputation 
already  so  happily  begun.  At  any  rate  I hope  you  are  al- 
ready enabled  to  raise  the  price  of  your  pictures.  If  you  have 
not  I think  you  ought  immediately.  I hope  You  will  be  at 
some  Pains  to  chuse  a pleasing  Subject  for  your  next  Exhi- 
bition, for  it  is  not  agreable  to  hear  Dislikes  exprest  by  even 
the  most  stupid  and  ignorant  from  such  an  accidental  Cir- 
cumstance. 

I expected  to  have  revisited  America  this  Summer,  but  I 
beleive  I shall  now  spend  another  Year  in  England,  where  I 
should  rejoice  to  see  You,  and  to  render  You  every  Service  in 
my  power.  I hope  your  Mother  and  Brother  are  well.  I doubt 
not  but  the  latter  is  making  great  Progress  in  your  Art,  which 
he  seemd  to  have  so  fine  a Genius  for.  Your  old  Friend  Capt. 
Traille  is  at  Gibraltar,  where  he  went  about  two  Months  ago. 
He  continues  to  remember  You  with  much  regard,  and  is  still 
assiduous  in  the  Labours  of  the  Pencil.  He  has  parted  with  his 
Wife  I believe  totally.  She  lives  with  her  Father  in  Somerset- 
shire. A happy  Riddance. 

I beg  you  will  continue  to  let  me  hear  from  You,  and  com- 
mand any  Services  I can  do  You  here.  Mr.  West  seems  much 
your  Friend,  and  would  be  useful  to  You  if  you  come  to  Europe. 


55 


1767  Copley -Pelham  Letters 

He  ’ is  making  great  Progress  in  History-Painting,  and  pro- 
duced some  capital  Pieces  this  Year.  He  is  at  the  same  time  a 
very  agreeable  amiable  Young  Man.1 

Your  last  Year’s  Picture  is  still  at  Mr.  Reynolds’s,  but  I 
shall  take  it  from  thence  in  a few  Days,  and  take  great  care  of 
it  till  I have  your  Orders  how  to  dispose  of  it. 

I wrote  to  Mrs.  Melvill  and  Mr.  Scollay  last  Year,  but  I 
find  my  Letters  never  reached  them.  I write  by  this  opport’y 
to  Mr.  Scollay  and  Mr.  Kennedy  and  send  the  former  a Sett  of 
Mr  Strange’s  last  Performances.2 

Remember  me  to  your  Mother  and  all  Friends  and  believe 
me,  D’r  Copley,  Your  sincere  Friend  and  humble  Serv’t. 

R.  G.  Bruce. 


P : S : I must  give  you  one  Caution,  which  is,  that  if  any  of  the 
Critical  Reviews,  Examinations  etc.,  of  the  Exhibition  (which 
have  been  published  here)  should  fall  into  your  Hands,  to  pay 
no  manner  of  Regard  to  what  they  say,  as  they  are  most  execra- 
ble Performances  and  universally  condemned.  The  Artists 
depend  on  another  Exhibition  from  You  next  Year.  They 
already  put  you  on  a footing  with  all  the  Portrait  Painters 
except  Mr.  Reynolds.  If  You  have  been  able  to  attain  this 
unassisted  at  Boston,  What  might  you  not  atchieve  in  Europe? 
Your  coming  home  as  an  Artist  travelling  for  Improvement 
will  cost  you  very  little.  I shall  therefore  hope  to  see  You 
bring  home  your  next  Exhibition  in  Person. 

This  was  first  intended  to  go  single  but  as  I now  enclose  it 
and  have  not  time  to  write  it  over  again  you’ll  excuse  my  scrib- 
ling  over  the  first  Direction. 

1 West  was  born  in  1738. 

2 Sir  Robert  Strange  (1721-1792),  an  engraver,  and  long  a friend  of  West. 


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Benjamin  West  to  Copley 

London,  June  20th,  1767. 
Sir, 

Dont  impute  the  long  Omition  of  my  not  writeing  to  you  [to] 
any  forgetfullness  or  want  of  that  F riendship  I first  Shewd  on  see- 
ing your  works.  My  having  been  so  much  ingaged  in  the  Study 
of  my  Bussiness,  in  perticuler  that  of  history  Painting,  which 
demands  the  greates  Cear  and  intelegance  in  History  amagin- 
able,  has  so  intierly  Prevented  my  takeing  up  the  Penn  to 
answer  your  Several  Agreable  favours,  and  the  reception  of  your 
Picture  of  the  little  Gairl  you  Sent  for  the  exhibition.  It  came 
safe  to  hand  in  good  time.  And  as  I am  Persuaded  you  must 
be  much  interested  in  reguard  to  the  reception  it  mett  with 
from  they  artists  and  Publicks  opinion  in  General,  I as  a 
Friend  Take  this  oppertunity  to  Communicate  it  to  you. 

In  regard  to  the  Artists  they  Somewhat  differ  in  Opinion 
from  Each  Other,  Some  Saying  they  thought  your  First  Picture 
was  the  Best,  others  Say  the  last  is  Superior  (which  I think  [it] 
is  as  a Picture  in  point  of  Exhecution,  tho  not  So  in  Subject). 
But  of  those  I shall  give  this  of  Mr.  Reynolds  when  he  saw  it 
he  was  not  so  much  Pleased  with  it  as  he  was  with  the  first 
Picture  you  Exhibited,  that  he  thougt  you  had  not  mannaged 
the  general  Affect  of  it  so  Pleasing  as  the  other.  This  is  what 
the  Artists  in  General  has  Criticised,  and  the  Colouring  of  the 
Shadows  of  the  flash  wants  transperency.  Those  are  thing[s]  in 
General  that  have  Struck  them.  I Cant  say  but  the  Above 
remarks  have  some  justness  in  them,  for  the  Picture  being  at 
my  house  some  time  gave  me  an  oppertunity  of  Examining  it 
with  more  Exectness. 

The  General  Affect  as  Mr.  Reynolds  justly  Observes  is  not 


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SI 


quite  so  agreable  in  this  as  in  the  other;  which  arrises  from 
Each  Part  of  the  Picture  being  Equell  in  Strenght  of  Coulering 
and  finishing,  Each  Making  to  much  a Picture  of  its  silf,  with- 
out that  Due  Subordanation  to  the  Principle  Parts,  viz  they 
head  and  hands.  For  one  may  Observe  in  the  great  works  of 
Van  dyke,  who  is  the  Prince  of  Portrait  Painter[s],  how  he  has 
mannaged  by  light  and  shedow  and  the  Couler  of  Dreperys 
made  the  face  and  hands  apear  allmost  a Disception.  For  in 
Portrait  Painting  those  are  they  Parts  of  Most  Consiquence, 
and  of  Corse  ought  to  be  the  most  distinguished.  Thare  is  in 
Historical  Painting  this  Same  attention  to  be  Paid.  For  if  the 
Principl  Carrictors  are  Suffred  to  Stand  in  the  Croud,  and  not 
distinguished  by  light  and  shadow,  or  made  Conspicuous  by 
some  Pece  of  art,  So  that  the  Eye  is  first  Caut  by  the  Head 
Carrictor  of  the  History,  and  So  on  to  the  next  as  he  bears 
Proportion  to  the  head  Carrictor,  if  this  is  not  observed  the 
whole  is  Confusion  and  looses  that  dignity  we  So  much  admier 
in  Great  works.  Your  Picture  is  in  Possession  of  Drawing  to  a 
Correctness  that  is  very  Surpriseing,  and  of  Coulering  very 
Briliant,  tho  this  Brilantcy  is  Somewhat  missapplyed,  as  for 
instance,  the  Gown  too  bright  for  the  flesh,  which  over  Came  it 
in  Brilency.  This  made  them  Critisise.they  Shadows  of  the 
Flesh  without  knowing  from  whence  this  defect  arose;  and  so  in 
like  manner  the  dog  and  Carpet  to  Conspichious  for  Excesry 
things,  and  a little  want  of  Propriety  in  the  Back  Ground, 
which  Should  have  been  Some  Modem  orniment,  as  the  Girle 
was  in  a Modem  dress  and  modern  Cherce  [skirt?].  The  Back 
Ground  Should  have  had  a look  of  this  time.  These  are  Critis- 
isms  I should  not  mak  was  not  your  Pictures  very  nigh  upon  a 
footing  with  the  first  artists  who  now  Paints,  and  my  being 
sensible  that  Observations  of  this  nature  in  a friendly  way  to  a 


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man  of  Your  Talents  must  not  be  Disagreable.  I with  the 
greater  Freedom  give  them,  As  it  is  by  this  assistance  the  art 
is  reasd  to  its  hight.  I hope  I shall  have  the  Pleasur  of  Seeing 
you  in  Europe,  whare  you  will  have  an  oppertunity  of  Contem- 
plateing  the  great  Productions  of  art,  and  feel  from  them  what 
words  Cannot  Express.  For  this  is  a Scorce  the  want  of  which 
(I  am  senseble  of)  Cannot  be  had  in  Ameri[c]a;  and  if  you 
should  Ever  Come  to  London  my  house  is  at  Your  Service,  or  if 
you  should  incline  to  go  for  Italy,  if  you  think  letters  from  me 
Can  be  of  any  Service,  there  are  much  at  your  Service.  And 
be  asshurd  I am  with  greatest  Friendship,  Your  Most  obediant 
Humble  Servent 

Benjn  West. 

PS.  I have  Spoke  to  Several  of  our  Mezzotinto  Scrappers, 
and  there  Prices  for  a Plate  after  a Picture  of  that  Sise  is  from 
fifteen  Guines  to  Twenty  Guines.  Thare  is  Scrapers  of  a less 
Price  thin  that,  but  they  are  reather  indefirent.  I hope  you  will 
fevour  us  with  a Picture  the  next  Exhibition.  In  Closed  I Send 
you  a Copy  of  our  Royal  Charter  and  list  of  fellows,  amongst 
whom  you  are  Chosen  one.  The  next  which  will  be  printed  your 
name  is  to  be  inserted. 

Captain  R.  G.  Bruce  to  Copley 

London,  25th  June,  1767. 

Dear  Copley, 

Since  I wrote  to  You  the  nth  Curr’t  I was  informed  that 
a Letter  had  lain  a great  while  for  me  at  Mr.  Myers’s.  Upon 
calling  there  yesterday  I found  your  Letter  of  the  12th  Novr. 
last,  which,  had  they  taken  the  trouble  of  putting  in  the  Post 
Office,  I should  have  received  in  course.  I wish  I had  received 


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59 


it  sooner,  that  I might  have  made  your  Acknowledgements  to 
the  Gentlemen  therein  mentioned.  However  I shall  do  it  the 
first  time  I see  them.  Your  Brother’s  Portrait  I have  removed 
from  Mr.  Reynolds’s  to  Mr.  West’s,  where  I think  it  had  better 
remain  as  a Specimen  till  you  arrive  yourself  to  dispose  of  it; 
especially  as  your  last  Exhibition  is  in  the  Hands  of  People 
where  it  will  be  of  no  use  to  You.  With  regard  to  the  last 
Picture  exhibited,  you  have  the  opinions  of  the  learned  in  my 
Letter  of  the  nth,  and  the  letter  inclosed  in  it  from  Mr  West. 
Upon  the  whole  you  have  not  pleased  so  universally  as  last 
Year,  arising  merely  from  the  unlucky  choice  of  your  Subject. 
Among  the  Judges  there  are  several  who  prefer  the  last,  and  of 
these  are  Mr.  Hayman  1 and  Mr.  West,  but  Mr.  Reynolds  and 
the  Majority  prefer  the  first,  because  in  that  you  have  made 
the  under  parts  of  the  Picture  more  subordinate  to  the  principal 
than  in  the  last,  where  they  say  the  under  parts  such  as  the 
Dog,  Parrot  Carpet  etc.,  are  too  brilliant  and  highly  finished  in 
proportion  to  the  Head  and  Hands.  The  Nobility  in  gen’l  have 
condemned  the  last  for  this  excellent  Reason,  that  “ it  is  an  ugly 
Thing.”  Let  me  therefore  intreat  You  to  ransack  the  whole 
Town  and  Country  for  a pleasing  Subject  for  your  next  Exhibi- 
tion. As  the  Society  of  Artists  have  chose  You  a Fellow  of  the 
Society  (which  you  will  find  by  a Letter,  I have  inclosed  in  my 
last,  from  the  President)  They  will  depend  on  your  continuing 
to  exhibit.  I wish  it  was  convenient  for  You  to  paint  your  next 
Exhibition  Picture  at  the  House  of  Mr.  West,  where  you  would 
be  very  welcome,  and  where  you  would  receive  some  Assistance. 
I should  think  your  Business  at  Boston  could  not,  at  any  rate, 
suffer  much  by  a Year  or  twos  Absence,  and  the  Expence  would 
not  amount  to  much.  I am  afraid  you  will  delay  coming  to 
1 Francis  Hayman  (1708-1776). 


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Europe  till  the  Force  of  your  Genius  is  weakened,  and  it  may 
be  too  late  for  much  Improvement;  and  the  Art  be  thereby 
deprived  of  a capital  Hand.  You  are  obliged  to  Mr.  West  and 
Mr.  Hayman  for  being  proposed  as  a Fellow  of  the  Society. 
The  former  is  so  hurried  that  I have  been  obliged  to  teize  him 
for  the  Letter  I have  sent  You,  much  in  the  same  manner  as  I 
did  formerly  to  persuade  You  to  finish  the  Picture,  which  is  still 
surveyed  here  as  an  astonishing  Performance.  My  Vanity  is  not 
a little  flattered  in  having  been  the  first  to  find  out  its  Merit,  since 
it  has  had  such  great  and  universal  Applause  in  this  Country. 

Remember  me  to  your  Mother  and  Brother  and  my  old 
Acquaintances  in  your  Part  of  the  World  and  believe  me  with 
much  Truth,  Dear  Sir,  Your  sincere  Friend  and  Serv’t 

R.  G.  Bruce. 

Continue  to  direct  for  me  as  usual.1 

George  Livius  to  Copley 

Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  3d.  Sepr.,  1767. 

Sir, 

I am  desirous  of  having  two  family  pictures  copied  in  the 
best  manner.  If  you  will  undertake  it  I will  send  them  to  you 
next  week.  I intend  carrying  the  copies  home  which  makes  me 
wish  to  have  them  very  perfect  pictures,  and  was  I not  well 
satisfied  of  your  ability  I woud  have  ventured  the  originals  to 
England.  I shall  send  them  to  you  if  you  think  well  of  it,  and 
can  let  me  have  them  at  the  end  of  five  weeks  in  Boston.  The 
originals  were  painted  by  De  Kelberg,  and  one  of  them  has 
been  allways  held  to  be  a good  picture;  the  other  I have  been 
told  by  good  judges  has  faults,  and  when  I know  your  deter- 

1 This  letter,  sent  by  the  John  Galley , Captain  Huline,  was  received  October 
13,  1767. 


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61 


mination  I shall  be  able  easily  in  a few  lines  to  you  to  point  out 
any  necessary  alterations. 

I shoud  be  glad  of  your  answer  by  return  of  the  post,  also 
the  price  of  a copy,  as  I do  not  at  present  well  recolect  it,  they 
are  half  pictures.  I remain,  Sir,  Your  most  obedt.  & h ble  Servt. 

George  Livius. 


George  Livius  to  Copley 

Portsmouth,  N.E.,  14th  Seper.,  1767. 
Sir, 

You  shoud  have  heard  from  me  in  consequence  of  your 
letter  had  not  the  packett  which  was  to  have  sail  d last  week 
been  delay’d  ’till  this  time.  1 intend  sending  the  Portraits  by 
Captn.  Femald;  he  sails  tomorrow.  As  to  the  price  you  wrote 
me  it  exceeds  considerably  what  was  customary  with  you  when 
I was  in  Boston  two  years  since,  and  at  present  is  more  than 
was  expected  by  some  Gentlemen  here,  especially  for  a copy , 
and  I need  not  observe  to  you  the  very  few  opportunities  you 
have  of  copying  from  so  good  a picture  as  one  of  them  is.  How- 
ever all  I shall  add  on  this  head  is,  that  it  shall  be  left  entirely 
to  your  discretion.  I have  particularly  to  beg  that  nothing  may 
be  spared  to  have  them  as  perfect  pictures  as  you  can  make 
them  for  your  own  honor  and  the  credit  of  New  England,  for 
as  good  pictures  they  may  be  observed  in  England  and  further 
convince  many  of  your  merit.  I am  sorry  you  have  been  dis- 
appointed by  three  or  four  days  of  receiving  them,  however  I 
make  no  doubt  but  that  five  weeks  from  the  date  of  your  letter 
(the  8th.  Instt.)  will  answer  your  purpose  as  to  time,  you  shall 
hear  from  me  if  I shoud  be  delay’d  longer,  but  I at  present  rely 
on  having  them  at  that  time  finish’d  in  Boston. 

I remain,  Sir,  your  most  Obedt  Servt 


George  Livius. 


62 


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r P.S.  They  measure  the  Kitcat  size.  I find  I can  now  spare 
you  five  weeks  from  this  date,  that  is  ’till  monday  the  19th  of 
next  month.  The  Alterations  I woud  chuse  to  have  in  one  of 
the  pictures  are,  1st.  the  hand  which  holds  the  baskett  of 
flowers.  This  I think  is  very  badly  foreshortned.  The  best  way 
to  remedy  that  in  the  copy  may  be  by  letting  the  mantle  cover 
it,  tho’  I shoud  prefer  seeing  the  hand  well  foreshortned.  The 
hair  is  also  badly  executed,  as  it  is  intended  to  exhibit  hair  that 
has  been  powder’d,  careless  in  undress,  but  it  looks  more  like 
grey  hairs  in  its  present  dress,  which  woud  be  very  inconsistant 
with  the  air  of  the  picture,  which  has  a youthfull  appearance. 
The  person’s  age  was  about  30  at  the  time  of  taking  the  picture, 
and  a sure  circumstance  that  they  were  not  intended  for  grey 
is  that  at  the  time  of  her  death  the  hair  was  light  brown,  which 
is  the  color  I woud  prefer  having  it  drawn  in.  Another  fault, 
thought  so  by  those  who  remember  the  person,  is  the  prodigious 
breadth  of  the  picture  across  the  shoulders  (I  dont  mean  the 
fall  of  the  shoulders).  This  you  will  observe  when  you  see  the 
picture  to  be  to  a degree  unnatural,  tho  I imagine  it  was  in- 
tended to  express  the  looseness  of  the  bed  gown;  but  it  does 
not  produce  that  effect.  I woud  chuse  to  alter  the  color  of  the 
bed  gown  from  the  flaring  colour  it  is  of  to  a more  becoming 
and  grave  one,  to  a garnet  purple  for  instance;  but  this  I 
leave  also  to  your  fancy  and  taste.  As  to  the  other  picture  I 
woud  chuse  no  alteration  whatever  in  it;  only  an  exact  and 
good  copy  as  possible.  Care  must  be  taken  not  to  thrust  the 
chisel  too  far  in  opening  the  case,  there  is  a groove  in  the  wood 
work  in  which  part  of  the  portrait  is  let  in  as  it  was  a \ of  an 
inch  too  small;  you  will  observe  the  case  is  not  to  be  opened 
on  the  broad  part,  but  on  the  side  on  which  the  card  is  nail’d, 
which  is  to  be  gently  wedged  up  with  a chisel  for  fear  of  hurt- 


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63 


ing  the  pictures,  which  are  to  be  carefully  drawn  out  of  the 
grooves  they  are  put  into.  And  in  packing  up  the  pictures 
again  you  will  take  care  to  have  them  put  facing  each  other, 
that  they  may  not  rub  or  be  hurt.  I shall  be  obliged  to  you  if 
you  will  in  time  bespeak  as  good  a case  to  pack  up  your  por- 
traits in,  to  be  sent  me  here. 


Copley  to  Francis  M.  Newton. 

Boston,  Novr.  23,  1767. 

Sir, 

I received  your  very  polite  Letter  of  the  3d  of  Sepr.,  1766, 
which  gave  me  the  first  notice  of  my  being  Elected  a Fellow  of 
the  Society  of  Artists  of  Great-Briton  tho  by  some  accident  it 
did  not  come  to  hand  till  the  13th  of  Octr.,  1767,  otherwise  I 
should  sooner  have  acknowledged  the  seense  I have  of  the 
compliment  they  have  been  pleased  to  Honour  me  with. 

I beg  Sir  You  will  take  the  first  oppertunity  of  making  my 
acknowledgements  to  the  President  and  Society  for  this 
testamony  of  their  approbation,  and  the  favourable  reception 
they  have  given  my  works,  and  as  I shall  allways  esteem  it  a 
real  Honour  to  be  of  that  Society,  so  I shall  by  constant  appli- 
cation to  my  studys  strive  to  deserve  the  Election;  But  as  I 
am  sensable  the  Honour  of  the  Society  depends  on  the  promo- 
tion of  the  Arts,  I cannot  but  reflect  with  concern  on  my  pres- 
ent situation,  which  utterly  deprives  me  of  every  oppertunity 
(but  what  Nature  has  furnish’d  me  with)  of  being  aiding  in  this 
laudable  work. 

In  a Country  where  their  is  neither  precept,  example,  nor 
Models,  to  form  the  taste  direct  and  confirm  the  practice  I 
cannot  take  the  sattisfaction  or  procure  the  advantages  I might 


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injoy  in  obeying  Your  sommons.  But  the  tie  of  Filial  Duty 
pleads  my  excuse  for  what  might  otherwise  be  thought  to  arrise 
from  Inactivity  I am,  Sir,  with  all  Due  Respect,  Your  Most 
Obet.  Humble  Sert. 

John  Singleton  Copley. 

Copley  to  [Captain  R.  G.  Bruce?] 1 

[1767?] 

But  What  shall  I do  at  the  end  of  that  time  (for  prudence  bids 
us  to  Consider  the  future  as  well  as  the  present).  Why  I must 
eighther  return  to  America,  and  Bury  all  my  improvements 
among  people  intirely  destitute  of  all  just  Ideas  of  the  Arts, 
and  without  any  addition  of  Reputation  to  what  I have  already 
gaind.  For  the  favourable  receptions  my  Pictures  have  met 
with  at  home  has  mad  them  think  I could  get  a better  Living 
at  home  than  I can  here,  which  has  been  of  service  to  me,  but 
should  I be  disappointed,  it  would  be  quite  the  reverse.  It 
would  rather  lessen  than  increase  their  oppinion  of  my  Works 
which  I aught  by  all  prudent  methods  strive  to  avoide.  Or  I 
should  sett  down  in  London  in  a way  perhaps  less  advantagious 
than  what  I am  in  at  present,  and  I cannot  think  of  purchasing 
fame  at  so  dear  a rate.  I shall  find  myself  much  better  off  than 
I am  in  my  present  situation.  (I  would  be  here  understood  to 
speak  of  the  profits  of  the  art  only,  for  as  I have  not  any 
fortune,  and  an  easy  income  is  a nesasary  thing  to  promote  the 
art.  It  aught  to  be  considered,  and  Painters  cannot  Live  on 
Art  only,  tho  I could  hardly  Live  without  it) . But  As  it  is  not  pos- 
sable  for  me,  Who  never  was  in  Europe,  to  settle  sufficiently  in 
my  mind  those  points,  I must  rely  on  Your  Friendship  and  Mr. 

1 A fragment  of  the  letter. 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


1767 


West  to  inform  me.  I have  wrote  You  and  Mr.  West  in  the 
plainest  and  most  unreserved  maner  what  the  dificultys  are, 
and  doubt  not  Your  friendship  and  prudence  will  lead  You  to 
give  all  Due  weit  to  the  objections  I have  proposed;  and  if 
You  think  they  are  still  sufficient  to  keep  me  in  this  Country, 
I shall  strive  to  content  myself  where  I am.  I have  been  thee 
more  perticular  in  this  Letter  Least  the  other  should  have  mis- 
carried, and  doubt  not  You  will  write  me  answer  as  soon  as 
possible,  and  prevail  on  Mr.  West  to  Lay  asside  the  pencil  to 
remove  my  Doubts,  for  You  cannot  but  know  a state  of  uncer- 
tainty in  affairs  of  consequence  (as  these  are  to  me,)  are  very 
perplexing  and  disagreable.  Beside  if  Your  Answer  [be]  such  as 
to  favour  my  going,  you  know  I have  a Real  Estate  which  I 
must  dispose  of,  and  a Great  Deal  of  Business  to  settle,  which 
must  take  up  much  time  and  will  detain  me  another  Year, 
unless  I can  hear  soon  from  You. 


Copley  to  [West  or  Captain  R . G.  Bruce?] 

[1767?] 

I observe  the  Critisisms  made  on  my  last  picture  were  not  the 
same  as  those  made  on  the  first.  I hope  I have  not  in  this  as  in 
the  last  by  striving  to  avoid  one  error  fallen  into  another.  I 
shall  be  sorry  if  I have.  However  it  must  take  its  fate.  Perhaps 
You  may  blame  me  for  not  taking  anoth[e]r  subject  that  would 
have  aforded  me  more  time,  but  subjects  are  not  so  easily 
procured  in  this  place.  A taste  of  painting  is  too  much  Wanting 
to  affoard  any  kind  of  helps;  and  was  it  not  for  preserving  the 
resembla[n]ce  of  perticular  persons,  painting  would  not  be 
known  in  the  plac[e].  The  people  generally  regard  it  no  more 
than  any  other  usefull  trade,  as  they  somtimes  term  it,  like  that 


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of  a Carpenter  tailor  or  shew  maker,  not  as  one  of  the  most 
noble  Arts  in  the  World.  Which  is  not  a little  Mortifiing  to 
me.  While  the  Arts  are  so  disregarded  I can  hope  for  nothing, 
eith[e]r  to  incourage  or  assist  me  in  my  studies  but  what  I 
receive  from  a thousand  Leagues  Distance,  and  be  my  improve- 
ments what  they  will,  I shall  not  be  benifitted  by  them  in  this 
country,  neighther  in  point  of  fortune  or  fame.  This  is  what  I 
wrote  at  large  in  my  last  letter  Datted  [ ] 1 as  the  only 

reason  that  discourages  me  from  going  to  Europe,  least  after 
going  I shall  not  find  myself  so  good  an  artist,  as  to  merit  that 
incouragement  that  would  make  it  worth  my  while.  It  would 
by  no  means  be  [ ] to  go  th[e]re  to  improve  myself,  and  than 
return  to  America ; but  if  I could  make  it  worth  my  [while]  to 
stay  there,  I would  remove  with  Moth[e]r  and  Broth [e]r,  who 
I am  bound  by  all  the  ties  of  Duty  and  Effe[c]tion  not  to  Desert 
as  Long  as  I live.  My  income  in  this  Country  is  about  three 
hund’d  Guineas  a Year,  out  of  which  I have  been  able  to  Lay 
up  as  much  as  would  carrie  me  thru  and  support  me  hand- 
somly  for  a Couple  of  Years  with  a family. 

Copley  to  Benjamin  West 2 

Boston,  Jany.  17th,  1768. 

Sir, 

By  Capt  [ ] I send  You  two  portraits,3  one  in  Oyl  the 

other  in  Crayons,  with  respect  to  the  first  I think  common  jus- 

1 Perhaps  the  letter  preceding.  Cunningham,  in  his  Lives  of  the  British 
Painters , prints  two  extracts  from  letters  of  1767  not  found  in  this  collection, 
one  to  Captain  Bruce,  and  the  other  to  West. 

2 There  are  two  drafts  of  this  letter.  The  first  one  has  many  erasures,  the 
more  important  of  which  are  given  in  the  footnotes. 

3 Erased  in  first  draft:  “agreable  to  the  promiss  I made  You  in  my  Last,  which 
I am  very  desireous  to  hear  of  Your  receiveing.” 


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tice  to  myself  requires  some  Apologys,That  in  case  it  should 
not  answer  Your  expectations  it  may  not  be  intirely  at  the 
expence  of  my  Reputation.  For  altho  it  may  be  as  good  as  my 
portraits  generally  are,  yet  for  an  Exibition  somthing  more  may 
be  expected,  and  that  Artist  is  greatly  to  be  pitied,  who  cannot 
occationally  rise  above  the  common  level  of  his  practice.  Yet 
such  has  been,  my  ill  Luck,  that  this  as  well  as  the  last  Years 
I have  not  had  the  advantages  I generally  have  for  my  other 
portraits.  The  reason  of  which  is  my  not  receiveing  the  Criti- 
sisms  of  the  Artists  and  publick  earlyer,  and  I prize  them  two 
highly  to  be  willing  to  lose  the  advantage  of  them,  which  I 
should  do  at  least  one  Year,  should  I paint  my  picture  before 
they  come  to  hand.  Yet  I find  I had  better  submit  to  that  in- 
conveniance  than  to  the  evil  of  doing  it  in  the  depth  of  Winter,1 
the  weither  bein[g]  too  severe  and  time  too  far  elapsed  for  such 
a work,  considering]  at  the  same  time  that  I am  obliged  to 
attend  to  a great  [deal]  of  Business.  Having  no  assistance  I 
am  obliged  to  do  all  parts  of  my  Pictures  with  my  own  hand. 
However,  I should  not  have  had  so  many  apologys  to  make  for 
this  portrait  if  Mr.  Rogers  could  have  spared  time  to  have  sat 
as  I found  occation  for  him,  but  the  preparations  for  his  Voy- 
age to  London  took  up  so  much  of  his  time  as  to  leave  me  to  the 
disagreable  necessaty  of  finishing  a great  part  of  it  in  his  absence. 

As  to  the  other  if  I have  not  succeeded  I must  take  all  the 
blame  to  myself  it.  It  is  a plain  head 2 and  the  only  apology  I 
have  to  offer  is  this,  that  as  I never  saw 3 any  thing  done  in  that 

1 Erased  in  first  draft:  “when  the  shortness  of  time  the  sever[it]y  of  the 
Climate  at  once  conspire  to  appose  the  Art  that  can  only  thrive.  But  here  I was 
doubly  unlucky.” 

2 First  draft:  “in  Crayons.”  Erased  in  second  draft:  “in  the  most  simple  dress 
Imaginable.” 

* Erased  in  first  draft:  “more  than  three  heads  done  in  Crayons.” 


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way  that  could  possably  be  esteemd,  I am  more  at  a loss  to 
know  what  will  please  the  Coniseur.  I prefered  simplissity  in 
the  dress  because,  should  I do  any  thing  in  a taste  of  Drapery 
forrain  from  or  contrary  to  what  is  the  prevailling  fashon  when 
the  picture  appears  at  the  Exibition,  it  must  displease.  Nor 
indeed  can  I be  suplyed  with  that  variety  of  Dresses  here  as  in 
Europe,  unless  I should  put  myself  to  a great  expence  to  have 
them  made.  This  picture  bears  the  Likeness  of  a Young  Lady 
who  is  known  by  some  that  may  visit  the  Exibition  and  may  be 
desireous  to  have  a coppy  of  it,  which  I beg  You  will  not  suffer 
as  I am  under  the  strongest  obligations  both  to  her  Parents  and 
herself  having  given  my  word  and  honour  that  no  Coppy  shall 
be  taken  of  it.  What  ever  their  reasons  may  be  this  is  so  bind- 
ing upon  me  that  I beg  it  as  a thing  of  the  last  importance  not 
to  let  any  Body  have  it  out  of  Your  possession  except  while  it  is 
in  the  Exibition.  After  that  is  over  I beg  You  will  keep  it  till 
I shall  direct  how  to  dispose  of  it. 

I am  very  ancious  to  hear  of  Your  receiveing  my  last  Letter, 
as  it  contained  the  reasons  that  have  hithertoo  deter’d  me  from 
a Voyage  to  London;  and  being  uncertain  weither  they  will  be 
thought  sufficent  or  not,  and  I can  only  be  informd  by  You  and 
My  Friend  Capt.  Bruce,  to  whom  I communicated  the  same. 
I should  be  glad  to  go  to  Europe,  but  cannot  think  of  it  without 
a very  good  prospect  of  doing  as  well  there  as  I can  here.  You 
are  sensable  that  three  hundred  Guineas  a Year,  which  is  my 
present  income,  is  a pretty  living  in  America,  and  I cannot 
think  You  will  advise  me  to  give  it  up  without  a good  prospect 
of  somthing  at  least  equel  to  it,  considering  I must  remove  an 
infirm  Mother,  which  must  add  to  the  dificulty  and  expencive- 
ness  of  such  [a]  Voyage.  And  what  ever  my  ambition  may  be 
to  excell  in  our  noble  Art,  I cannot  think  of  doing  it  at  the 


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69 


expence  of  not  only  my  own  happyness,  but  that  of  a tender 
Mother  and  Young  Brother  1 whose  dependance  is  intirely 
upon  me. 

I cannot  conclude  this  long  epistle  without  taking  notice  of 
the  diference  of  the  Exicution  of  the  three  portraits  in  Oyl  I 
have  painted  for  the  Exibition.  The  first  is  Minutely  finished 
and,  as  well  as  I can  remember,  I think  pretty  clean;  the  shades 
collected  and  thrown  out  of  the  principal  part  of  the  Picture. 
The  second  less  minute  not  so  clean,  nor  the  shades  so  well 
dispos’d  on  the  flesh.  The  last  You  will  find  differs  from  the 
other  two,  from  the  first  in  point  of  Minuteness,  and  the  second 
in  point  of  Cleanness  and  disposition  of  shades.  Yet  I am  alto- 
gether uncertain  weither  it  will  please  mor  or  less  than  the  last, 
but  I beg  You  will  continue  Your  remarks  in  the  same  friendly 2 
maner  You  have  hither  too  done,  which  will  very  much  Oblige 
Your  sincere  friend  And  Humble  Sert. 

John  S:  Copley. 

P.S.  To  secure  the  pictures  from  the  customs  I have  directed 
them  to  Roger  Hale  Esqr.  Land  surveyor  at  the  custom  house 
port  of  London,  in  the  same  maner  as  I did  the  last  Year. 


Copley  to  [Captain  R.  G.  Bruce] 

[Circa  January  17,  1768.] 

Dear  Sir, 

By  this  oppertun[i]ty  I send  the  two  portraits  that  I promist 
in  my  last,  one  in  Crayons  the  other  in  Oyl,  which  I have 
Directed  to  Mr.  Hale  to  secure  them  from  the  Customs,  as  I did 
the  one  I sent  the  last  Year.  I must  beg  you  will  be  so  kind  as 

1 First  draft:  “ who  I am  bring[ing]  up  to  [the]  same  study  with  myself.” 

5 First  draft:  “canded.” 


7o 


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1768 


to  see  that  Mr.  West  receives  them  for  the  Exibition.  I in- 
tended to  have  sent  them  sooner  but  I found  it  more  dificult  to 
procure  a subject  than  I thought  I should.  I really  wish  they 
may  please  but  I assure  you  I have  not  had  a Common  chance 
sence  the  first  I sent  but  have  eigther  been  hurried  by  the 
shortness  of  time  or  the  interuption  of  other  Business  or  hun- 
dred by  the  badness  of  the  weither.  Perticularly  in  Mr.  Rogers 
portrait  I met  with  so  much  dificulty  as  not  to  be  certain  weither 
I should  be  able  to  finish  the  face  before  he  saild  or  not  till  a 
few  Days  before  he  went  for  London,  which  was  so  dispiriting 
that  if  it  is  not  liked  you  must  blame  him  for  all  the  Defects  you 
find  in  it.  He  will  acknowledge  my  observations  to  be  true  and 
I doubt  not  will  do  me  justice  in  this  perticular.  He  will  remem- 
ber I was  Obliged  sometimes  to  beg  sometimes  to  scold  in  order 
to  mak[e]  the  Dificulty  of  his  compliance  less  than  the  neglect 
of  his  seting  by  which  means  I obtain[e]d  as  much  time  as  I gen- 
erally spend  about  a portrait  of  this  size,  which  is  by  no  means 
sufficient  in  my  oppinion  for  an  Exibition  Picture.  Indeed  (I 
find  however  it  may  be  with  other  painters)  that  mine  are 
almost  allways  good  in  proportion  to  the  time  I give  them  pro- 
vided I have  a subject  that  is  picturesk.1 

Myles  Cooper 2 to  Copley 

King’s  College,  New  York,  5 Augt.  1768. 
Sir, 

By  Capt  Smith,  who  convey  s this,  You  will  receive  7 Guineas, 
the  price,  if  I recollect,  of  the  Picture.  By  the  Same  Gentleman 

1 The  remainder  of  the  letter  is  wanting. 

2 Myles  Cooper  was  second  president  of  King’s  College  from  1763  to  1776. 
There  are  two  portraits  of  him  at  Columbia  University,  one  of  which  is 
doubtless  the  object  of  this  correspondence.  It  has  been  reproduced  in  Columbia 


1768 


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71 


I also  send  a Gown,  Hood,  and  Band,  by  which  to  finish  the 
Drapery.  This,  I doubt  not,  you  will  be  able  to  execute,  before 
Capt.  Smith  returns  to  New  York;  at  which  Time  You  will 
return  the  Gown  etc.  together  with  the  Picture:  and,  if  a 
Couple  of  Guineas  will  purchase  the  little  Piece  which  I so  much 
admired,  the  Nun  with  the  Candle  before  her,  You  may  send 
that  also,  which  I will  deposit  in  our  College  Library,  as  a 
Beginning  to  a public  Collection.  If  the  Picture  does  not  please 
You,  and  I should  visit  Boston  again,  the  next  Year,  I will  take 
Care  that  it  shall  be  there  before  me;  that,  when  I come,  it  may 
receive  your  finishing  Hand.  I am,  Sir  yr.  most  obedt  and  very 
hble  Sert. 


Myles  Cooper. 

Please  to  convey  the  Letter  to  Mr.  Troutbeck.1 


Copley  to  [Myles  Cooper]2 

[1768.] 

I received  Your  favour  by  C[apt.]  Smith  with  the  robe  in 
good  order.  I am  sorry  it  is  not  in  my  power  to  comply  with 
Your  requesft]  in  sending  it  back  as  soon  as  You  expected,  but 
having  been  ingaged  to  sett  out  opon  a tour  of  a week  the  next 
Morning,  but  will  return  it  when  Cap  Smith  makes  his  next 
trip.  I likewise  received  seven  Guineas  the  price  of  Your  por- 
trait. As  to  the  Candle  light  In  consideration  of  the  use  You 
propose  to  make  of  it  I will  part  with  it  for  two  Guineas,  as  it  is 
my  desire  to  see  some  publick  collection  begun  in  America. 

University  Quarterly , 1.  347.  The  other  is  either  a replica  by  Copley  or  a copy 
by  another  artist.  Mr.  Edward  R.  Smith  has  discussed  the  history  and  rela- 
tionship of  the  paintings  in  ibid.,  xti.  299-301. 

1 John  Troutbeck  was  assistant  rector  of  King’s  Chapel,  y 755— 1775. 

2 An  extremely  rough  draft  of  Copley’s  reply  to  the  preceding  letter,  without 
address,  signature  or  date. 


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1768 


I shall  therefore  send  it  with  Your  portrait].  One  box  will 
contain  the  two  but  I [am]  extreemly  loath  to  send  Yours  till 
You  sett  again,  for  after  it  has  been  seen  by  everey  body  the 
finnish  comes  too  late  to  answer  the  purposes  desired. 

Benjamin  West  to  Copley 

London,  Sepr.  20th,  1768. 

Dear  Sir, 

By  your  Friend  Mr.  Rogers  I send  you  these  few  lines  on 
the  subject  of  your  last  letter  to  me.  My  long  Silence  on  this 
head  must  have  made  you  think  by  this  that  I had  forgot  you. 
But  the  more  I reflected  on  your  Situation,  and  those  Points 
you  have  been  Pleasd  to  Communicate  to  me,  the  More  I found 
myself  under  the  Necessity  of  a longer  Deliberation  and  not  to 
be  too  precipitate  in  writeing  you  my  Opinion  till  I had 
Exactly  assertaind  that  of  Publick.  I have  with  the  greatest 
care  Endavoured  at  their  real  Sentiments  in  regard  to  the 
Merrits  of  those  Specimens  you  have  been  pleast  to  favour  us 
with  of  your  Painting  at  our  Exhibition,  And  find  by  their 
Candid  approbation  you  have  nothing  to  Hazard  in  Comeing 
to  this  Place.  The  Plan  I then  offer  for  your  Consideration  is  as 
follows : The  length  to  which  you  have  advanced  in  the  Art  of 
Painting  shews  the  High  light  you  hold  that  noble  art  in,  and 
the  venaration  you  must  have  for  those  great  Productions  with 
which  Italy  abounds,  Tho  perhaps  amongs  the  liveing  Masters 
of  that  Country  you  may  not  meet  with  a rival.  But  from  the 
works  of  those  dead  to  a Man  of  Powers  they  are  a Source  of 
Knowledge  ever  to  be  prized  and  Saught  after.  I would  there- 
for, Mr.  Copley,  advise  your  makeing  this  viset  while  young 
and  befor  you  determin  to  Settle.  I dont  apprehend  it  needs  be 
more  than  one  Year,  as  you  wont  go  in  pursut  of  that  which 


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73 


you  are  not  Advanced  in,  but  as  a Satisfaction  to  yourself 
hea rafter  in  knowing  to  what  a length  the  art  has  been  Carried 
to.  by  this  you  will  find  yourself  in  Possesions  of  Powers 
you  will  then  feel  that  Cannot  be  Communicated  by  words 
and  is  onely  to  be  felt  by  those  which  Nature  has  Blessd  with 
Powers. 

As  your  Setling  in  England  will  be  attended  with  a little 
famely,  if  your  viset  to  Italy  could  be  first  accomplished  I 
should  think  it  would  be  better.  But  this  yourself,  Mr.  Rogers, 
or  your  other  Friends  will  be  the  best  judges  of.  This  seems  to 
me  the  Plan  that  most  affectually  establishes  you,  and  what 
is  to  be  Accomplisdd  without  great  Expance.  this  is  what 
Occurs  to  me  on  this  head,  and  candidly  send  it  you  as  one  that 
is  your  Friend.  My  Friendship  I freely  give,  and  if  ever  you 
should  Come  hear,  I begg  you’ll  make  my  house  your  home. 
I am,  Dear  Mr.  Copley,  Your  Friend  and  Most  obediant  Hum- 
ble Servent 

B:  West. 


Myles  Cooper  to  Copley 
King’s  College,  New  York,  24  Octr.,  1768. 

Sir, 

I was  so  unfortunate  as  not  to  see  Capt.  Smith  during  his 
Stay  here  the  last  Voyage,  otherwise,  a Line  should  have  waited 
on  You  at  his  Return.  I am  obliged  to  You  for  what  you  say 
concerning  the  Candle-Light,  which  You  will  please  to  send  by 
Capt.  Smith  (who,  I fancy,  will  be  almost  ready  to  sail,  by  the 
Time  You  receive  this),  and  the  Money  [shall  be  re-]mitted 
to  you  by  the  first  Opportunity.  But,  by  the  Same  Convey- 
ance, I must  also  beg  of  you  to  send  my  Portrait,  finish’d  in 
the  best  Manner  You  can ; for,  as  to  my  Coming  again  to  Boston, 


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1769 


(considering  what  a Situation  You  are  in,  and  I am  afraid 
Things  are  not  likely  to  change  for  the  better)  the  Matter  is 
quite  uncertain:  and,  if  ever  I do  see  the  Place  again,  it  will 
hardly  be  before  both  You  and  I have  seen  Europe. 

I have  seen  several  People  who  have  told  me  the  Picture  is 
exceeding  like  me;  and  if  the  Finishing  is  not  so  high,  as  You 
might  have  made  it,  on  another  Sitting;  I will  take  all  Care 
that  the  Circumstances  shall  be  known  to  those  who  have 
either  Discernment  enough  to  taste  its  Excellencies,  or  Pene- 
tration sufficient  to  observe  its  Defects.  I am,  Sir  with  my 
best  wishes  ’for  your  Welfare,  yr.  most  obedt.  and  very  hble 
Servt. 

Myles  Cooper. 


Myles  Cooper  to  Copley 
King’s  College,  New  York,  9th  Jany,  1769. 

Sir, 

I was  much  surprized  that  you  neither  thought  proper  to 
send  my  Picture,  as  you  were  desir’d  to  do,  by  Capt.  Smith; 
nor  to  give  me  any  Reason  for  the  Omission.  Perhaps  he  might 
have  slipt  away  as  he  has  done  from  me,  without  your  Know- 
ledge of  his  sailing:  but  still  you  might  have  let  me  know  that 
such  was  the  Case.  As  for  the  portrait  itself,  the  want  of  it 
cannot  be  attended  with  any  great  Inconvenience;  but  the 
Gown  I think  you  are  unpardonable  for  keeping  in  your  Hands 
so  long : And  the  other  Picture,  if  I had  been  in  possession  of  it, 
would,  ere  this,  have  been  the  Occasion  of  procuring  some 
more,  to  my  certain  Knowledge,  for  our  Library.  I beg,  Sir, 
you  would  send  at  least,  my  Gown  by  the  first  Opportunity, 
and  remain,  yr.  most  obedt.  Servt. 


Myles  Cooper. 


1769 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


75 


Edward  Holyoke 1 to  Copley 

Cambridge,  Jany.  31,  1767.2 

Sir, 

This  comes  to  desire  you  to  delivr.  Mr.  Hollis’s  Picture  to 
the  Persons  I shall  send  (as  soon  as  may  be)  with  an  Order  for 
it.  It  seems  you  say  the  Goven’r  told  you,  you  might  take  it  to 
yor  self,  having  16  Guineas  only  for  the  new  Picture,  which  I 
wonder  at,  for  that  his  Excy.  must  needs  know  he  had  no  more 
power  to  Dispose  of  it  than  the  smallest  man  in  the  Governmt. 
But  however,  We  shall  not  be  sure  part  with  the  Picture,  and 
if  you  must  have  more  for  the  new  Picture,  let  it  be  so,  and  as 
for  yor  letting  us  have  it  Cheaper,  being  for  the  College,  I 
think  you  are  in  the  Right  rather  to  give  what  you  shall  see 
meet  to  allow  in  Gift  to  the  College,  in  some  other  Way,  I am 
Yor  humble  Servt. 

E.  Holyoke. 


Myles  Cooper  to  Copley 
King’s  College,  New  York,  21,  Augt.,  1769. 

Sir, 

I am  extremely  sorry,  that,  for  a voyage  or  two  before  this, 
Capt.  Smith  should  have  made  so  much  Haste,  as  to  have  pre- 
vented my  Sending  by  Him  the  two  Guineas  which  I am 
indebted  to  you  for  the  portrait.  The  piece  has  been  much 
admired;  as  well  as  the  picture  of  myself.  I should  be  very  glad 
if  You  could  persuade  yourself  to  exercise  your  Art  for  a few 

1 Edward  Holyoke  was  president  of  Harvard  College,  1737-1769.  He  died 
June  1,  1769. 

7 The  date  was  at  first  read  1769;  but  a closer  examination,  too  late  for 
transferring  the  letters  to  their  proper  places,  proved  1 767  to  be  correct. 


76 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1769 


Months  in  this  place : I am  satisfied  you  would  find  an  unparal- 
leled Degree  of  Encouragement,  notwithstanding  the  common 
Complaint  of  the  Scarcity  of  Money.  Any  assistance  that  I 
could  lend  you,  you  might  depend  on  receiving.  Capt  Smith 
will  give  you  the  Balance  of  your  Account;  and  you  will  oblige 
me  by  sending  a Rect.  for  the  whole  by  the  Return  of  the  same 
Conveyance.  I am,  Sr.  Yr.  most  obedt.  and  very  hble  Servt. 

Myles  Cooper. 


Copley  to  [Myles  Cooper ] 

Boston,  Sepr.  24,  1769. 

Sir, 

I take  this  oppertunity  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your 
kind  favour  by  Capt.  Smith.  It  gives  me  peculiar  pleasure  to 
find  the  pictures  came  safe  to  hand  and  were  approved  off.  I 
am  much  obliged  to  you  for  the  assistance  you  are  so  kind  to 
offer  me  should  I visit  New-york.  Although  I cannot  at  present 
make  that  excursion  for  the  exercise  of  my  pencill,  I may  in 
some  future  time,  when  I shall  be  doubly  happy  in  the  friend- 
ship of  one  from  whom  an  obligation  will  be  no  ways  painfull. 
I am  Sir  with  all  Respect  your  Most  Obet.  Humle  Sert. 

John  Singleton  Copley. 

G.  W.  Schilling[?]  to  Copley 1 

Sir, 

To  fulfill  my  promisse  per  these  few  lines  I do  acquaint  you 
that  yr  Picturje]  is  very  wel  received  by  all  the  world. 

I am  very  glad  and  thank  you  kindly  for  your  paines  that 
you  have  taken  in  painting,  and  for  all  favours  which  you 

1 This  letter  is  written  in  a somewhat  trembling  hand.  It  bears  the  stamp  of 
the  New  York  post  office,  April  3.  The  postage  was  four  shillings. 


il  69 


77 


Copley  -Pelham  Letters 

have  shewd  to  me.  my  Compliments  to  yr  beloved  lady 
Mother  and  whole  famyly.  I am  with  the  utmost  regard,  Sir, 

Your  most  humble  servant 
G:  W:  Schilling  [?]. 

Utregt  the  1 8 8br.  1769 

Pray  excuse  my  scrable. 

Captain  John  Small 1 to  Copley 
Head  Quarters,  New  York,  8ber.  29th.  1769. 

Sir, 

The  Miniature  you  took  from  my  Crayon  Picture  has  been 
very  much  admir’d  and  approv’d  of  here,  by  the  best  Judges. 

Your  picture  of  the  General 2 is  universally  acknowledg’d  to 
be  a very  masterly  performance,  elegantly  finish’d,  and  a most 
striking  Likeness;  in  short  it  has  every  property  that  Genius, 
Judgement  and  attention  can  bestow  on  it.  The  Gentleman 
who  delivers  you  this  Letter  is  Mr.  Taylor  of  considerable 
Fortune  in  the  West  Indies,  and  of  an  accomplish’d  Taste 
and  education,  improv’d  by  Travelling  and  observation;  these 
circumstances  induce  me  to  make  so  great  a Connoisseur  ac- 
quainted with  you,  that  he  may  have  an  opportunity  ~of 
Observing  that  Genius  is  not  confin’d  to  Europe,  or  the  East- 
ern Count  rys. 

I Want  much  to  have  a Copy  of  my  Crayon  picture,  Mr. 
Dumaresq 3 will  Let  you  have  the  use  of  it  for  that  purpose. 

Mr.  Taylor  soon  returns  hither , and  will  do  me  the  favor  to 

1 (1726-1796).  Long  in  America,  as  Captain  of  the  21st  Regiment  in  1765, 
Major  Commandant  in  the  84th  in  1775,  and  finally  Lieutenant  Colonel  Com- 
mandant in  the  same  regiment  in  1780.  He  is  prominently  represented  in  Trum- 
bull’s picture  of  Bunker  Hill. 

2 Gage? 

* Probably  Philip  Dumaresque,  a merchant  of  Boston. 


78 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1769 


take  Charge  of  it;  should  it  be  any  way  inconvenient  to  him; 
(for  I would  by  no  means  be  troublesome)  it  can  be  sent  by 
any  other  safe  Opportunity,  and  you  may  draw  on  me  for  the 
price,  or  inform  me  to  Whom  I shall  pay  that  Sum  here  or  at 
Boston;  Your  Order  shall  be  instantly  accepted.  If  Consistent 
with  your  own  oppinion  and  agreable  to  your  Rules,  I should 
be  glad.  The  Face  should  be  a Little  higher  in  the  frame,  so 
that  more  of  the  body  and  drapery  should  appear;  I think  I 
mentioned  this  when  I sat  to  you  or  about  the  time  the  first 
picture  was  finish’d;  But  I Leave  it  intirely  to  your  own  decision 
and  shall  be  satisfy’d  to  receive  it  as  you  think  propper  to  send 
it;  should  You  approve  of  any  Alteration  of  the  above  sort  and 
that  a hand  may  appear  I would  wish  to  have  plac’d  in  that 
hand  a paper,  or  part  of  a paper  folded  up  and  endors’d  on  the 
upper  end  with  the  Annex’d  Superscription  or  Endorsement 
and  as  this  may  occasion  a good  deal  more  Labor  and  must 
be  troublesome  in  some  degree  to  you  in  the  performance,  I 
would  by  no  means , propose  this  addition  without  also  an 
Increase  of  the  price.  If  you  think  proper  to  demand  or  charge 
it,  be  assur’d  it  will  be  chearfully  paid.  I beg  an  answer  to  this 
Letter  As  soon  as  convenient  to  you  and  am,  Sir,  Your  Obedt 
Servt. 

John  Small. 

Direct  To  John  Small  Esqr  Major  of  brigade  at  Head 
Quarters  N York. 

To  appear  on  the  before  mention’d  paper.  General  Return  of 
the  troops  composing  the  Army  in  North  America  Boston  8ber 
1769. 

N.  B . The  words  may  be  contracted  if  you  choose  it,  the  paper 
by  no  means  to  be  broader  than  this  annex’d  pattern. 


I77° 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


79 


Mr.  Eliot 1 to  Copley 

[1767?] 2 

Mr  Eliot’s  Compliments  to  Mr  Copley.  The  President  and 
the  other  Gentlemen  of  the  Corporation  think  it  would  be 
quite  improper  to  part  with  the  Picture  sent  by  Mr  Hollis  — 
are  willing  to  pay  Mr  Copley  for  the  other,  but  earnestly  desire 
the  small  one  may  be  put  up  to  be  ready  when  the  President 
shall  send  for  it. 

Thurs:  P:  M: 

Henry  Pelham  to  Charles  Pelham 

Boston,  Jany  17,  1770. 

Dear  Brother, 

This  is  to  request  of  you  to  let  Me  know  if  you  have  yet 
found  the  Letter  that  you  mentioned  when  last  in  town.  Upon 
thinking  of  the  Circumstances  of  that  affair,  we  can  form  no 
probible  conjecture  but  that  it  must  be  a person  who  has  had 
some  connection  or  Acquaintance  with  our  hond.  Father, 
either  in  England  or  here.  I therefore  submit  it  to  you  weither 
it  would  not  be  best  to  Incert  an  Advertizement  in  the  News- 
paper for  the  Recovery  of  it.  If  it  should  be  found  and  turns 
out  to  be  of  no  Advantage  ether  to  you  or  me,  yet  it  will  satisfy 
our  Curiosity,  and  leave  us  assured  that  we  have  not  lost  any 
thing  for  the  want  of  seeking  it.  If  you  think  an  Advertizement 
proper,  be  pleased  to  write  one  and  send  it  and  I will  insert  it  in 
the  paper.  I would  request  you  to  make  strict  search,  because 
it  is  impossable  to  know  what  advantages  may  be  missed  by 
the  Family  by  its  being  lost.  My  Hond.  Mama,  who  has  been 
1 Andrew  Eliot. 

* See  President  Holyoke’s  note  of  January  31,  1767,  p.  75,  supra. 


8o 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


I77° 


very  unwell  ever  since  you  was  in  Town,  joins  me  in  tenderest 
love  and  Respects  to  yourself  and  Sister  Pelham,  hoping  you 
are  all  well.  I remain  Dear  Sir  Your  Affectionate  Bror.  and, 
Humble  Sert. 

H.  Pelham. 

PS.  There  is  a Report  in  Boston  which  gains  Credit  that 
Mr.  Dickinson  the  pensilvania  Farmer  is  dead,  which  gives  the 
greatest  concern  to  every  Friend  of  the  Libertys  of  America.1 

Charles  Pelham  to  Henry  Pelham 

Newton,  Jany.  27,  1770. 

My  dear  Bror., 

I reed  yours  of  17th,  and  very  much  Commend  the  prudent 
concern  you  shew  regarding  the  Letter  I mention’d  to  you,  and 
were  it  necessary  shou’d  have  readily  fallen  into  your  proposal 
of  Advertising  it. 

I had  not  the  least  apprehension  that  it  related,  or  was 
interesting  to  me  personally,  but  concluded  you  was  the  person 
meant,  and  by  what  I had  heard,  I judg’d  it  to  be  very  Inter- 
esting; This  imagination  engag’d  my  utmost  vigilence,  by 
which  after  some  search  I receiv’d  the  Letter,  and  found  it  to 
be  from  Capt.  Richard  Lowry,  half  Bror.  to  Thos.  Pelham.2 
The  Letter  is  directed  to  Mr.  Pelham.  He  says  he  had  been 
absent  and  had  heard  nothing  of  the  Family  for  25  Years,  but 
meant  to  address  himself  to  Chas.  or  Wm.,  whichever  might 
be  Living.  The  purport  of  the  Letter  is  a very  tender  enquiry 
after  his  Brethren,  His  Mothers,  and  our  Fathers  Familys;  and 
a very  earnest  request  that  I will  write  to  him  concerning  them. 

1 John  Dickinson  died  February  14,  1808. 

2 Peter  Pelham’s  second  wife  was  Margaret  Lowrey. 


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1 77° 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


8 1 


I am  sorry  to  hear  your  Mama  was  so  unwell,  but  hope  ’ere 
now  she  is  better  again.  We  are  all  (Thank  God)  in  pretty  good 
health;  your  Sister  Pelham  heartily  Joins  in  Tender  Respects 
to  our  Mama,  in  Love  to  you,  and  affecte.  Regards  to  Mr. 
Copley  and  Lady.  Your  Godson1  grows  a clever  Fellow,  and 
will  soon  wonder  that  you  do  not  come  and  Catechise  him. 
Hilly 2 is  Taught  to  express  Duty  and  Gratitude  to  her  Grand- 
mama,  and  would  be  greatly  pleas’d  to  pay  her  a visit.  I pray 
God  to  Bless  you  and  am  Your  Affecte.  Brother 

Chas.  Pelham. 

John  Greenwood 3 to  Copley 

Dr.  Sir, 

i It  has  given  me  infinite  pleasure  from  time  to  time,  to  see 
your  masterly  performances  exhibitted  here  in  London,  and 
hope  at  the  approaching  Season  to  find  no  disappointment,  as 
it  will  certainly  be  a very  great  one  to  me,  if  a Picture  of  yours 
is  wanting,  as  it  may  hapen  that  subjects  may  frequently  hin- 
der your  favoring  us  with  them  so  often  as  one  coud  wish,  I’ve 
tho’t  of  one  very  proper  for  your  next  years  Applause,  and  our 
amusement;  I mean  the  Portrait  of  my  Hond.  Mother,4  who 
resides  at  present  nigh  Marblehead,  but  is  often  in  Boston, 
as  I have  of  late  enter’d  into  conections,  that  may  probably 
keep  me  longer  in  London  than  I coud  wish,  I am  very  desirous 
of  seeing  the  good  Lady’s  Face  as  she  now  appears,  with  old 
age  creeping  upon  her.  I shoud  chuse  her  painted  on  a small 
half  length  or  a size  a little  broader  than  Kitt  Katt,  sitting 

1 Charles  Pelham,  Jr.,  bom  May  io,  1769. 

2 Helen,  born  April  2,  1867  or  1768. 

3 See  Dictionary  of  National  Biography , xxm.  85. 

4 Mary  (Charnock)  Greenwood. 


82 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


I77° 


in  as  natural  a posture  as  possible.  I leave  the  pictoresque 
disposition  intirely  to  your  self  and  I shall  only  observe  that 
gravity  is  my  choice  of  Dress.  I have  desired  her  to  write  to 
you  to  be  inform’d  when  ’twill  suit  you  for  her  to  come  to 
Boston,  if  you  could  get  it  done  by  the  time  that  Capn. 
Symms  sails  for  London  I shoud  be  sure  of  a safe  conveyance. 

In  regard  to  myself,  since  I left  the  West  indies  I ’ve  been 
visiting  most  of  the  Courts  of  Europe,  and  admiring  the  thou- 
sand fine  paintings  that  one  finds  distributed  among  them, 
tho’  at  present  England  bids  fair  to  become  the  seat  of  the 
Arts  and  Artists,  Almost  every  thing  that  is  not  immoveable  is 
brot  here,  from  every  Country,  as  none  pay  so  generously  for 
real  good  pictures  as  the  English  — tho ’ I must  confess , I think 
it  begins  somewhat  to  fall  off.  You’ll  be  supprized  when  I tell 
you,  that  I have  brot  into  London  above  1500.  pictures,  and 
have  had  the  pleasure  of  adorning  some  of  the  first  Cabinets  in 
England,  so  that  I have  had  but  little  time  to  exercise  my  pen- 
cil, but  now  and  then,  have  for  amusement  painted  and  scrap’d 
several  pieces  that  have  not  been  disregarded. 

West  goes  on  painting  like  a Raphael  and  realy  out  does 
every  thing  one  could  have  expected,  his  Compositions  are 
Noble,  his  design  correct,  and  his  Colouring  harmonious 
and  pleasing,  and  a certain  Sweetness  in  his  Charecters,  that 
must  please  every  one  that  beholds  them.  You  certainly 
have  seen  prints  after  him,  which  will  give  you  but  a faint 
Idea  of  his  Performances,  we  have  several  Exhibitions  com- 
ing on,  of  old  and  new  pictures,  Prints,  Drawings,  etc.,  which 
form  Mr  Boydels  Collection,  so  that  for  six  weeks  to  come, 
you  woud  hear  of  nothing  here  but  the  Virtu  — just  as  chil- 
dren in  Boston  for  a fortnight  before  the  ’Lection,  prate  of 
nothing  else,  it  will  please  me  to  continue  a correspondence 


1770 


83 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


with  Mr  Copley,  and  if  I can  be  any  ways  Serviceable  to 
him  here  in  London  he  may  freely  comand  me.  I beg  you  ’ll 
accept  my  most  sincere  wishes  for  Your  Welfare,  and  be  as- 
sured shall  Always  be  pleased  with  Your  Success.  I am  with 
respects  to  all  friends,  Dear  Sir,  Yr  most  Obed.  Humble  Sert. 

Jno.  Greenwood. 

Mount  Street  the  23  March,  1770. 


Henry  Pelham  to  Paul  Revere 
Thursday  Morng.  Boston,  March  29,  1770. 

Sir, 

When  I heard  that  you  was  cutting  a plate  of  the  late  Murder. 
I thought  it  impossible,  as  I knew  you  was  not  capable  of  doing 
it  unless  you  coppied  it  from  mine  and  as  I thought  I had  en- 
trusted it  in  the  hands  of  a person  who  had  more  regard  to  the 
dictates  of  Honour  and  Justice  than  to  take  the  undue  advant- 
age you  have  done  of  the  confidence  and  Trust  I reposed  in  you. 
But  I find  I was  mistaken,  and  after  being  at  the  great  Trouble 
and  Expence  of  making  a design  paying  for  paper,  printing  &c, 
find  myself  in  the  most  ungenerous  Manner  deprived,  not  only 
of  any  proposed  Advantage,  but  even  of  the  expence  I have 
been  at,  as  truly  as  if  you  had  plundered  me  on  the  highway. 
If  you  are  insensible  of  the  Dishonour  you  have  brought  on 
yourself  by  this  Act,  the  World  will  not  be  so.  However,  I 
leave  you  to  reflect  upon  and  consider  of  one  of  the  most  dis- 
honorable Actions  you  could  well  be  guilty  of. 

H.  Pelham. 

P S.  I send  by  the  Bearer  the  prints  I borrowed  of  you.  My 
Mother  desired  you  would  send  the  hinges  and  part  of  the 
press,  that  you  had  from  her. 


84  Copley -Pelham  Letters  1770 


A Receipt  for  Money 

Major  Small Dr. 

To  Mr  Copeleys  order  for  £7.10  / Sterlg.  at  par  ....  £13.6.  8 
To  freight  a Box  from  Boston 4 

New  York  Curry.  £13. 10.  8 

Reed,  the  above, 


Paschal  N.  Smith. 

[Endorsed  by  Major  Small]  Receipt  in  full  from  Capt  Smith 
for  £13.10.8  New  York  Currency  remitted  by  him  to  Mr 
Copely  at  Boston,  in  March  1770. 

A Bill  for  Printing 

Mr.  Henry  Pelham  to  Danl  Rea  Junr. 

March  To  Cash  Advanc’d  for  12  Quire  of  Paper  @ f 
1 770  To  Printing  575  of  your  Prints  1 @ 1 2/  Pr.  Hund. 

L[awful]  Money 
Contents  Reed.  Pr.  Danl  Rea  Jun. 

John  Hurd  to  Copley 

Portsmo.,  17th  April,  1770. 

Dr  Sir, 

By  orders  from  Governor  Wentworth  I have  putt  on  board 
this  Sloop,  Capt  Miller,  a Large  Case  with  a Valuable  Picture 
of  one2  of  his  favourite  Friends  which  lately  arriv’d  from  Eng- 
land, and  by  some  bad  Stowage  in  the  Vessell  has  taken  con- 
siderable Damage.  The  Governor  desires  you  would  receive 

1 Probably  Pelham’s  prints  of  the  massacre.  See  previous  letter. 

2 Mr.  Hurd  has  underscored  “one”  and  written  “Mr  Jno.  Nelson”  in  the 
margin. 


Dr. 

2 

3:9: 

£5:9: 


1770 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


85 


it  into  your  Care  and  do  the  Needful  to  recover  and  repair  the 
Beauty  of  the  Picture  and  the  Frame,  so  as  to  reship  it  by 
return  of  Capt  Miller,  you  may  at  the  same  time  pack  up  the 
Frame  of  the  Picture  here,  which  you  have  the  measure  of  and 
ought  to  have  been  sent  before,  together  with  the  Governor’s  own 
Picture.  I was  much  disappointed  in  not  receiving  it,  when  the 
Vessell  arrivd  here  last,  beg  it  may  not  be  forgot  this  next  Time. 

You’ll  please  to  take  all  necessary  pains  to  repair  this  Picture 
of  Mr.  Nelson,  as  the  Governor  setts  great  Store  by  it  being  a 
Present  to  him.  he  esteems  it  as  an  Elegant  and  choice  piece  of 
painting,  the  Taste  of  which  he  thinks  you  will  be  pleased  with. 

He  desird  me  to  renew  his  Invitation  of  your  and  Mrs. 
Copley’s  coming  to  Wolfboro’  where  he  intends  moving  very 
soon,  and  tho’  you  may  meet  nothing  very  elegant  there,  he’ll 
assure  you  of  a hearty  Welcome  and  some  Employment  for 
your  Pencil,  and  you  may  depend  on  something  of  the  same 
sort  from  us  at  Portsmo.  as  it  lyes  within  our  Sphere.  I am  with 
great  Esteem,  Your  Most  hum  Servt. 

John  Hurd. 

[Pr]ay  my  Complimts  with  Mrs.  Hurds  to  Mrs  Copley. 

Henry  Pelham  to  Charles  Pelham 

Tuesday  Noon,  May  1,  1770. 

Dear  Brother, 

I have  just  Been  to  Mr.  Barnards  1 Store,  and  am  very  sorry 
to  inform  you  that  he  sat  out  this  Morn’g  for  Kenebeck,  where 
he  tarrys  3 or  4 Weeks.  I have  therefore  returned  the  Order  and 

1 Probably  John  Bernard,  of  King  Street,  opposite  Vernon’s  Head,  who  was 
one  of  the  merchants  being  denounced  at  this  time  for  “audaciously  continuing 
to  counteract  the  united  sentiments  of  the  body  of  merchants  throughout  North 
America,  by  importing  British  goods  contrary  to  the  agreement.”  Boston  Gazr 
ette  (Supplement),  June  18,  1770.  i 


86 


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1770 


should  have  been  very  glad  to  have  done  the  Buisness  more  to 
your  satisfaction. 

As  your  man  is  waiting,  I have  only  to  subscribe  myself  your 
most  Affectionate  Brother 

Hen’y  Pelham. 

P S.  Accept  of  our  best  Love  and  Respects  to  yourself  and 
Sister  Pelham. 


Henry  Pelham  to  Charles  Pelham 

Boston,  Tuesday  Eveng,  May  1,  1770. 

Dear  Brother, 

I embrace  the  first  Leasure  Moment  scince  your  Man  Left 
Boston  to  appologize  for  the  very  engenteel  scrawl  I sent  by 
him.  I beg  you  would  attribute  it  to  the  shortness  of  the  Time, 
and  not  to  any  disrespect  to  a Brother  whom  I shall  always  take 
the  greatest  pleasure  in  Serving  whenever  it  is  in  my  Power. 
I enquired  of  the  person  who  takes  care  of  Mr.  Barnard’s  Busi- 
ness if  he  had  left  any  Orders  respecting  you  Acct.  But  was 
i[n]formed  he  had  not.  My  Mama  sends  her  Love  and  Respects 
to  you  and  Sister  Pelham,  and  Blessing  to  Hilly  and  Charles; 
kindly  thanks  you  for  the  present  of  parsnips;  hopes  the  Goose- 
berry Wine  she  sent  will  prove  agreable.  Inclosed  I send  you 
two  of  my  prints  of  the  late  Massacre,  and  a Newspaper  con- 
taing.  Messages  between  the  Lieutenant]  Governor  and  the 
House,  Extract  from  Lord  Chatham’s  Speech,  A sketch  of  the 
proceedings  of  our  patriotick  Merch’s  who  have  resolved  to 
return  to  England  30000  £ st.  worth  of  Goods  imported  con- 
trary to  agreement;  the  WISPERER.  No.  IV;  the  remon- 
strance of  the  City  of  London  to  his  Majesty  &c.  &C.1  By  which 
you  will  conclude  that  they  are  in  the  utmost  confusion  in  old 
1 The  Boston  Gazette,  April  30,  1770. 


1770 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


87 


as  well  as  New  England.  What  will  be  the  final  Result  of  these 
Altercations  time  only  can  discover,  thus  much  seems  to  be 
certain  that  if  there  is  not  a change  of  Measures,  and  that  very 
soon,  the  British  Dominions  will  be  plunged  into  one  of  the 
most  dreadfull  of  all  temporal  Evills,  into  all  the  Horrors  of  a 
civil  War.  Yesterday  Messrs.  Hutchinsons  who  had  a large 
quantity  of  Tea  under  the  Custom  house  agreed  to  have  it 
stored  by  the  committee  of  Inspection  ’till  the  Act  is  repealed. 

A Vessell  just  arived  who  left  London  a week  after  Cap’t 
Scott.  Says  the  London  Remonstrance  was  presented  to  the 
King  by  three  Gentlemen  at  the  head  of  the  largest  Number  of 
People  ever  assembled  together  in  London  and  was  most 
graciously  Received. 

We  greatly  Rejoyce  to  hear  that  you  are  all  well  hope 
you  will  enjoy  a continuance  of  that  and  every  other  Bless- 
ing. Brotr.  and  Sister  Copley  join  me  in  tenderest  Love  and 
Respects  to  yourself,  Sister  Pelham,  and  Cousins  Hilly  and 
Charles.  Hoping  very  soon  personally  to  pay  my  respects,  and 
catachize  my  son  Charles  at  Newton.  I remain,  Dear  Sir,  Your 
Most  Affectionate  Brother,  and  Most  Humble  Servt. 

H.  Pelham. 

P S.  I must  beg  the  favour  of  you  Sir,  to  lock  up  the  News- 
paper in  your  desk  till  I come  to  Newton,  as  I find  I cannot  get 
another  from  the  printer,  and  I should  be  Very  sorry  to  be 
without  one. 

John  Hurd  to  Copley 

Portsmo’,  4th  May,  1770. 
Sir, 

I rec’d  your  favor  of  April  with  the  Portrait  Pictures  per 
Capt  Miller  which  are  come  to  hand  in  good  Order,  but  the 


88 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


I77° 


Frame  designd  for  the  Picture  here  is  too  small  by  half  an  Inch 
in  the  Wedth,  that  I fear  it  must  go  back  again  unless  we  find 
some  other  Use  for  it. 

Mr.  Nelson’s  Picture  I think  is  well  recoverd  from  the  Ruin 
it  seemd  devoted  to.  The  Governor  is  satisfy’d  with  it,  tho’  he 
hardly  thinks  it  restor’d  to  its  original  Beauty. 

He  and  his  Lady  return  their  Compliments  to  you  and  Mrs. 
Copley  for  yr.  respectful  Remembrance  of  them. 

I am  pleas’d  with  the  Governor’s  Picture  now  sent,  but  I 
cant  perswade  Mrs.  Hurd,  nor  my  Children  who  were  very  fond 
of  the  first,  that  this  Copy  is  equal  to  the  Other.  The  Glass  and 
frame  is  certainly  not  so  good. 

Inclosd  you  have  the  Governor’s  sett  of  Bills  Exchange  on 
Messrs.  Trecothick  and  Apthorp  of  London  for  £30.  13.6 
Sterlg,  the  Exact  Ballance  of  your  Acco’t  and  which  you’  11 
please  to  credit  him  for  Accordingly.  Pray  [give]  my  best 
Respects  to  your  Father  Clarke  and  all  his  good  family  in 
which  Mrs.  Hurd  desires  to  join  with  our  kind  Complim’ts  to 
Mrs  Copley.  I am  with  great  Regard  and  Esteem,  Dr,  Sir, 
your  most  humle  Servt. 

John  Hurd. 

William  Johnston  1 to  Copley 

Barbados,  4th  May,  1770. 

Dear  Sir, 

Yours  of  the  6th.  Jan’y  I reed,  and  setting  the  motive  asside 
from  which  it  was  wrote,  be  assured  it  gave  me  much  pleasure; 
could  I promise  myself  sucess,  I would  petition  for  a continu- 
ance of  your  favors.  I will  at  a Venture.  It  is  the  humble 

1 Perhaps  a son  of  Thomas  Johnston,  who  was  painter,  engraver  and  japanner 
in  Boston,  and  also  a designer  of  heraldic  work.  John  Greenwood,  some  of  whose 
letters  are  in  this  volume,  was  apprenticed  to  him. 


1770 


Copley -Pelham  Letters  89 

request  of  your  friend  Will:  that  as  often  as  Opportunity 
presents,  and  your  time  cannot  be  better  employ’d  that  you 
convey  a few  sentiments,  which  will  ever  be  agreable  and  most 
gratefully  received,  as  coming  from  my  friend  Copley. 

I could  wish  to  give  you  a more  satisfactory  account  of  the 
arms  you  are  in  search  of,  I well  remember  the  talk  of  such  a 
thing,  but  it  never  was  carried  into  Execution,  to  my  knowl- 
edge, for  be  assur’d  I never  had  it  possession  in  my  life.  It 
might  possibly  have  been  given  to  Mr.  Parker  who  was  at 
that  time  my  partner.  I was  at  Portsmouth  a year  and  half 
after  I left  it  as  the  place  of  my  residence,  and  put  up  at 
Captn.  Pearsons;'  no  mention  was  ever  made  of  it  at  that 
time.  If  I had  had  it  I should  have  done  it  and  return’d  them 
both,  for  of  what  service  could  they  be  to  me.  You  say  that 
the  Arms  consisted  of  three  Lions  and  a Stag  for  the  Crest,  if 
the  arms  are  so  well  remember’d,  the  Loss  is  happily  mitigated. 
I am  sorry  for  the  Loss  of  the  other,  if  there  was  any  particular 
Value  put  upon  it,  but  cannot  charge  myself  with  having  been 
instrumental  to  such  a misfortune. 

The  next  thing  to  be  considered,  I think  is  the  boiling  of 
oil,  the  purity  of  which  article  much  inhances  its  Value.  A few 
words  would  explain  to  you  what  you  desire,  but  I choose  to 
be  methodical,  for  when  method  is  strictly  observ’d,  we  are 
not  so  apt  to  shake  hands  with  Reason. 

Now  Sir  the  common  practice  of  boiling  oil  among  Common 
Painters;  observe  I say  Common  Painters,  for  what  I am  now 
about  communicate  is  a knowledge  you  do  not  want  to  come 
at;  but  that  knowledge  which  you  would  wish  to  be  informed] 
of,  or  made  perfect  in,  is  to  me  equally  easie  and  shall  be  com- 
municated in  a future  paragraph.  You  now  undoubtedly  will 
expect  to  be  inform’d  of  the  Common  Painters  method  boiling 


9° 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1770 


of  oil,  as  I observ’d  to  you  before  altho  it  is  not  a knowledge 
you  are  any  ways  curious  about,  yet  I have  promis’d  and  must 
abide  by  it;  from  this  Principle,  that  the  complying  with 
Engagements  is  not  only  a Duty,  but  a Virtue,  which  every  one 
should  cherish,  and  hold  in  the  highest  Veneration.  Now  Sir 
this  said  information  may  not,  and  I dare  [say]  is  not  altogether 
so  neigh  as  you  may  imagine,  for  a thought  has  Just  popt  into 
my  head,  the  bear  Idea  of  which,  affords  me  such  pleasure,  that 
I cannot  indulge  you  with  my  promise  till  I have  committed  it 
to  writeing.  It  is  this,  the  great  satisfaction  it  would  give  me  to 
have  a painting  of  my  friend  Copley’s  Head  Either  in  Crayons 
or  oil,  in  miniature  or  what  ever  way  will  be  most  agreable  to 
him.  I should  wish  to  have  it  very  like,  but  to  be  sure  of  that 
I need  only  to  desire  it  may  be  done  by  himself.  I say  the  Com- 
mon painters  method  is  this,  the  Common  painters  method  of 
what?  you  are  quite  right  indeed,  to  ask  what,  for  I really  like 
to  have  blunder’d,  but  it  must  have  occur’d  to  you  from  what 
would  have  follow’d  that  the  boilg.  of  oil  was  what  I meant. 
Well  then  (for  we  will  be  very  Carefull  this  time)  the  Common 
painters  method  of  Boiling  oil  is  this.  Take  any  given  quantity 
of  Oil  put  into  an  Iron  pott,  throw  into  it,  a little  red  Lead  put 
it  over  the  fire,  and  let  it  boil  till  such  times  as  the  froth  sub- 
sides, which  is  an  Indication  of  its  being  boil’d  Eno.  Some 
indeed  try  with  a feather;  when  it  is  sufficiently  Boil’d  it  will 
scorch  the  Feather.  Although  this  method  does  not  alter  the 
Quality  of  Dryg.  which  is  all  they  want,  yet  it  has  not  the 
property  the  other  method  gives  it,  for  instead  of  its  being 
return’d  to  you  Very  black  (which  is  ever  the  case  from  the 
Common  method  of  boilg.)  it  will  be  return’d  to  you  as  pure  as 
you  put  it  in,  and  will  hold  its  colour,  and  that  in  fact  is  what 
you  are  in  pursuit  of. 


177° 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


91 


Really,  Sir,  what  I promised  you  in  a future  paragraph  was 
design’d  for  this  place,  but  upon  sudden  recollection  find  that 
the  mark  as  well  as  word  signifies  the  beginning  of  a new  sub- 
ject; a new  subject  letjt  be  and  confine  the  other  to  a new  sen- 
tance.  Mrs.  Hobby  is  an  only  Sister  of  mine,  not  intirely 
unknown  to  you;  and  such  is  my  affection  for  her,  I should  be 
very  glad  to  have  her  picture  in  miniature,  in  water  colours  or 
oil,  which  you  please  tho : I must  confess  should  like  to  have  it 
in  water  Colours,  for  this  reason,  because  there  are  several 
pictures  in  this  Island  lately  arriv’d  from  England,  that  are 
thought  much  of,  so  far  inferior  to  some  I have  seen  of  my 
friends,  that  they  never  can  be  nam’d  with  them,  and  to  con- 
vince them  it  is  not  mere  boast  should  be  glad  to  have  [it]  as 
soon  as  you  can  conveniently  do  it.  What  ever  your  price  is 
shall  be  remitted  to  you  in  specie,  or  any  thing  you  may  Fancy 
from  this  Island.  Pray  oblige  me  in  this  request.  I think  there 
was  a picture  done  of  Mr.  Dipper:  done  in  small  life  and  given 
to  Harry  Liddle  if  you  will  give  me  a Copy  of  it  in  black  and 
white  Chalk,  Just  the  head;  or  with  a black  lead  pencil.  I want 
it  for  a Lady,  you  shall  receive  a Compensation  beyond  your 
desires. 

I have  been  in  some  parts  of  this  letter,  a little  bordering 
upon  the  Shandean  stile;  that  should  it  meet  you  on  a Cloudy 
day,  or  when  the  weather  had  for  a time  been  disagreable, 
brought  on  a languor  and  depression  of  spirits,  to  rouze  you 
and  make  you  forget  the  malady  you  then  Labour’d  under. 

Now  seriously  to  answer  your  request.  Take  a Glaz’d  pipkin, 
made  long  in  shape  thus.1  let  it  depend  from  the  trammel  into  a 
Kettle  of  water,  if  you  have  a mind  to  force  the  drying  prop- 
erty, you  grind  a little  Vitriol  or  sugar  of  lead,  and  stir  into  it 

1 Here  followed  a crude  sketch  of  a pipkin. 


92 


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1770 


before  it  grows  hot.  this  method  will  take  6 Hours  at  least,  the 
water  boiling  all  the  time.  I have  put  the  Oil  somtimes  imedi- 
ately  into  the  water  which  method  will  render  the  oil  as  white 
as  water  it  self,  but  in  the  boiling  so  divides  the  oil  into  number- 
less Globles  that  it  is  a considerable  time  before  it  will  unite 
sufficently  to  get  any  great  matter  from  the  water. 

The  other  will  answer  to  your  wishes. 

N B never  fill  the  Vessell  with  oil  above  two  thirds  full. 

I see  by  the  papers  you  have  chang’d  your  condition,1  and 
have  taken  to  yourself  a wife.  I have  [not]  the  pleasure  of 
knowing  your  Lady  by  sight:  but  from  the  Charracter  of  that 
family  in  general,  you  must  be  the  happy  Man.  I sincerely  wish 
you  both  every  hapiness  you  promis’d  yourselves,  or  that  your 
hearts  can  desire;  it  is  customary  upon  wishing  a new  married 
Couple  Joy  to  salute,  but  as  this  must  be  done  by  proxie,  I 
cant  with  propriety  employ  a better  hand  than  yourself;  please 
to  make  a kiss  acceptable  to  your  Lady  till  such  times  as  I can 
have  the  Honor  of  doing  in  Propria  Persona.  Well  adieu,  God 
bless  you ; write  me  as  often  as  you  can,  and  dont  forget  the 
News  of  the  place  you  live  in,  and  which  I have  so  great  a 
regard  for.  my  kind  regards  to  your  Lady  accept  the  same 
yourself  and  believe  me  to  be  with  truth  and  sincerity  Dear 
Sir  Your  affectionate  friend,  and  Very  Humble  Servant 

Wm.  Johnston. 

P.S  Inclos’d  is  a pencil  to  assist  you  in  the  miniature.  I forgot 
to  tell  you  I have  an  Organists  Birth  worth  £75  Sterl’g  per 
Ann. 

What  ever  you  may  have  to  send  me : if  there  should  not  be 

1 Copley  was  married  November  16,  1769,  to  Miss  Susannah  Farnum  (“Su- 
key”)  Clarke,  daughter  of  Richard  Clarke,  merchant. 


1770 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


93 


any  Vessell  in  Boston  for  this  place  forward  them  to  Mr. 
Hobby  at  Middletown  Connecticutt.  If  there  should  be  a 
Vessell  in  Boston  for  Barbados,  Direct  for  me  to  be  left  at  the 
Attorney  Generals  Office.  I.Veyow.  I had  like  to  have  forgot 
one  thing.  I want  a rough  scetch  of  that  little  picture  that  is 

oyer  the  Door  of  Mr  Chardon’s  Hall,*  Time  bringing  truth  to 
Light. 


Captain  John  Small  to  Copley 

g Head  Quarters,  New  York,  May  15th,  1770. 

I was  favor’d  with  yours  by  Captain  Pascal  Smith,  who  also 
Deliver’d  to  me,  the  Picture  you  were  kind  enough  to  Send 

me  by  him;  it  came  Safe  and  undamag’d  from  the  Voyage 
hither. 

You’ll  see  by  the  Inclos’d  Accot.  and  Receipt  that  Captn. 

Smith  has  been  paid,  and  Your  Draught  in  his  favor  Duely 
honor’d. 

Allovy  me  now,  Sir,  to  Congratulate  you  on  your  marriage, 
which  I saw  inserted  in  a Boston  paper.  I had  the  pleasure  of 
hearing  you  Mention  the  Lady,  when  I attended  your  Levee,  and 
with  such  warmth  of  Encomium  as  Convinc’d  me  of  your 
serious  and  well  plac’d  attachment.  Both  from  what  you  said 
yourself  and  the  amiable  Character  I heard  of  her  from  others: 

I make  no  doubt  of  your  having  been  happy  in  your  choice  and 
success. 

I beg  leave  to  assure  you  that  I sincerly  wish  you  Joy;  A 
person  of  Your  Merit  and  emminence  in  your  profession, 
deserves  and  ought  to  enjoy  sweets  of  social  and  domestick 

6 * Pet£r  Chardon>  who  died  in  1775(?).  But  see  Works  of  John  Adams,  11., 


94 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1770 


happiness ; as  an  additional  and  indeed  the  highest  incentive  of 
Endeavors  to  shine  in  so  exellent  an  Art. 

The  Beau  Monde  here,  have  Mutter’d  a good  deal;  on  hear- 
ing of  your  happy  wedlock;  not  from  want  of  good  wishes  for 
you,  but  that  as  they  consider  that  agreable  Event  to  you , as  a 
prevention  of  your  Coming  hither;  which  I assure  you  has  been 
earnestly  and  eagerly  wish’d  by  some  of  the  finest  women  in 
the  World . The  fame  of  your  performances  had  Long  ago 
Reach’d  them,  and  the  Specimens  which  have  recently  made 
their  appearance,  have  confirm’d  them  in  the  Idea  of  your 
Superior  genius;  and  Excited  the  Wishes  of  numbers  of  Both 
Sexes;  that  your  Leisure  might  admitt  of  Even  a Short  Visit 
from  you : Indeed  I dare  say  they  might  undertake  to  bespeak 
you  for  several  Years  Employmt  at  this  place  alone:  but  they 
now  begin  to  Despair  of  the  happiness  of  seeing  You.  The 
Generals1  Picture  was  receiv’d  at  home  with  universal  applause 
and  Looked  on  by  real  good  Judges  as  a Masterly  performance. 
It  is  plac’d  in  one  of  the  Capital  Apartments  of  Lord  Gage’s 
house  in  Arlington  Street ; and  as  a Test  of  its  merit  it  hangs 
between  Two  of  Lord  and  Lady  Gages,  done  by  the  Celebrated 
Reynolds,  at  present  Reckon’d  the  Painter  Laureat  of  Eng- 
land. 

The  Picture  you  sent  by  Captn  Smith;  is  not  only  approv’d 
highly  by  the  person  it’s  drawn  for,  but  greatly  admir’d  by 
Crowds  of  My  Friends  who  come  to  Look  at  it.  I shall  only 
further  observe  that  Nothing  Indifferent  can  Come  from  the 
hands  of  the  Ingenious  Mr.  Copely.  I am  Sir  your  oblig’d  and 
very  humble  Servt. 


1 Gage. 


John  Small. 


1770 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


95 


John  Wilkes  to  Nathaniel  Barber 1 

Princes  Court,  near  Stories  Gate, 
Westminster,  Sept.  21,  1770. 
Sir, 

My  Brother  Hayley 2 has  sent  me  from  you  a most  Valuable 
present  of  a Picture  which  I receive  with  great  Gratitude  and 
pleasure  from  its  being  the  recemblance  of  my  dear  namesake, 
and  the  merrit  of  the  Work  it  self.  I was  very  happy  to  Observe 
to  what  a degree  of  excellence  the  most  elegant  art  of  Painting 
is  Arrived  in  New  England,  and  as  you  rival  us  in  every  essen- 
tial good,  so  you  now  equal  us  in  the  refinements  of  Polished 
Life.  I shall  expect  every  thing  good  and  intrinsically  valuable 
from  the  Young  Gentleman,  whose  Picture  I admire,  when  I 
consider  that  he  is  educated  under  your  care,  and  among  the 
generous  sons  of  Freedom  in  America,  who  remain  undebauch’d 
by  the  wickedness  of  European  Courts,  and  Parliamentary 
Prostitution.  I pray  heaven  to  give  you  great  Comfort  in  him, 
and  to  permit  him  long  to  enjoy  the  Benefit  of  the  virtuous 
example  you  set  him!  My  most  respectfull  compliments  ever 
attend  the  friendfs]  of  Liberty  at  Boston,  and  I beg  you,  Sir, 
to  beli[e]ve  me,  with  great  truth  and  regard,  Your  Obliged, 
humble  Servant, 

John  Wilkes. 

1 The  letter  to  which  this  is  in  reply  is  printed  in  Mass.  Hist.  Soc.  Proceedings , 
xlvii.  214.  Barber  had  named  a son  Wilkes  Barber,  and  sent  to  Wilkes  a portrait 
of  the  .child,  then  in  his  fourth  year.  Copley  painted  it.  See  Copley  to  Benjamin 
West , November  24,  1770. 

2 George  Hayley,  an  alderman  of  London  and  brother-in-law  of  Wilkes.  He 
was  a member  of  the  mercantile  house  of  Hayley  and  Hopkins,  with  important 
American  connections. 


96 


Copley  -Pelham  Letters 


177° 


Henry  Pelham  to  Charles  Pelham 

Boston,  Nov.  12,  1770. 

Dear  Brother, 

Upon  my  Arivall  in  Town  I began  to  execute  your  Com- 
mands, by  delivering  your  Message  to  my  Mamma.  In  Return 
she  presents  her  kind  Love  to  you  and  says  that  she  expects  to 
use  her  stove  next  Winter,  but  in  the  mean  time  you  are  intirely 
welcome  to  the  Use  of  it,  if  you  think  it  worth  while  to  put  it 
up  ’till  then. 

I apply ed  Likewise  to  Mr  Walley,1  and  Messrs.  Green  and 
Russell,2  from  whom  I have  procured  a sett  of  the  perpetual 
and  Temporary  Laws  complete  to  the  present  time.  The  Tem- 
porary Laws  were  not  to  be  had  ready  bound.  The  price  of 
them  you  will  see  by  the  inclosed  Notes. 

By  the  papers  I am  Informed  of  the  sudden  Death  of  Mr 
Barnard,3  and  in  Virginia  of  that  of  Lord  Botetourt4  both  of 
which  I most  Lement.  Thos  Pelham  is  in  a deep  Consumption. 
He  was  first  taken  ill  about  three  Weeks  ago,  has  continued  to 
grow  weaker,  and  is  now  so  dangerous  that  his  Life  is  not  ex- 
pected from  one  hour  to  another.  His  Family  is  in  the  greatest 
Poverty  and  Misery. 

1 send  you  a new  Specimen  of  the  Abilitys  of  our  Boston 
Poetess  Phillis,  which  has  undergone  no  Corrections  what 
ever.  Mr.  Green,  who  examen’d  her  Poem  on  the  death  of 
Mr.  Whitfield  before  it  went  to  the  Press  alterd  but  one 
Word  in  the  Whole,  and  that  was  the  Word  Stars  instead  of 

» Abiel  Walley? 

2 John  Green  and  Joseph  Russell,  printers  of  the  Massachusetts  Gazette  and 
the  Boston  Post-Boy  and  Advertiser. 

3 Francis  Bernard,  eldest  son  of  Sir  Francis  Bernard. 

4 Norborne,  Baron  de  Botetourt.  See  Boston  Gazette , November  12,  1770. 


177° 


97 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


star.1  My  Mamma,  Bro’r  and  Sister  Copley  join  me  in  kindest 
Love  and  Respects  to  your  self,  my  Sister  Pelham,  Cousin  Hilly 
and  Charles.  I am,  Dear  Sir:  Your  most  affectionate  Bro’r 
and  most  humble  Sert. 

Henry  Pelham. 

Copley  to  [Benjamin  West ]2 

Boston,  Novr.  24,  1770. 

Dear  Sir, 

I am  afraid  you  think  I have  been  negligent  in  suffering  two 
years  to  pass  without  exhibiting  somthing,3  or  writeing  to  you 
to  let  you  know  how  the  Art  goes  on  this  side  the  Atlantick. 
But  be  assured  it  is  neigh ther  because  I have  forgot  my  Friend, 
or  have  been  less  assiduous  in  the  Labours  of  the  Pencil  than 
here  to  fore,  But  I find  it  extreemly  dificult  to  procure  Subjects 
fit  and  pleasing  to  entertain  the  Publick  with.  You  are  sen- 
sable  in  this  country  the  hands  of  an  Artist  is  tied  up,  not 
having  it  in  his  power  to  prosicute  any  work  of  fancy  for  want 
of  meterials.  Than  my  time  is  so  intirely  engrosed  in  painting 
portraits  as  to  make  it  very  dificult  for  me  to  exibit  constantly; 
but  the  most  meterial  Reason  of  all  others  was  the  prospect  I 
had  of  visiting  Europe  before  this  time.  When  I wrote  you  last 
I menshoned  some  obstruction  in  my  way  to  making  such  a 
tour,  and  you  have  doubtless  heard  before  this  time  I have 
increased  the  dificulty;  yet  be  assured,  notwithstanding  I have 
entered  into  engagements  that  have  retarded  my  travilling, 
they  shall  not  prevent  it  finally.  I will  make  all  give  way  to 

1 Phyllis  Wheatley. 

* See  W est  to  Copley , June  16, 1770,  referring  to  Dr.  Jarves  as  bearer  of  a letter 
from  Copley. 

3 Copley  sent  no  picture  to  the  exhibitions  of  1769,  1770,  1773  or  1774. 


98 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1770 


the  predominant  passion  of  cultivating  our  Art.  I am  now 
painting  a portrait  of  Mr.  Greenwood’s  Mother  for  him,  which 
he  designs  to  place  in  the  exhibition  Room.  But  if  I should 
have  the  good  fortune  to  imitate  nature  with  some  degree  of 
merit,  yet  it  cannot  please  as  an  Eligent  form  equelly  well 
imitated  would  do.  I should  therefore  be  glad  to  contrast  that 
Picture  of  a subj  ect  in  the  Evening  of  Life  with  one  in  the  Bloom 
of  youth,  but  it  will  not  be  in  my  power,  unless  you  shall  think 
one  lately  sent  to  Mr  Wilks 1 will  answer  that  purpose.  I had 
no  thoughts  of  making  such  an  use  of  it  when  I painted  it.  For 
this  reason  I beg  you  will  do  what  you  shall  think  best,  but  the 
party  spirit  is  so  high,  that  what  ever  compliments  the  Leaders 
of  either  party  is  lookd  on  as  a tassit  disapprobation  of  those 
of  the  other;  and  tho  I ought  to  be  considered  in  this  work  as 
an  Artist  imploy’d  in  the  way  of  my  profession,  yet  I am  not 
sure  I should  be,  and  as  I am  desireous  of  avoideing  every 
imputation  of  party  spir[it].  Political  contests  being  neighther 
pleasing  to  an  artist  or  advantageous  to  the  Art  itself,  I would 
not  have  it  at  the  Exibition  on  any  account  what  ever  if  there 
is  the  Least  room  to  supose  it  would  give  offence  to  any  per- 
sons of  eighther  party,  but  at  all  events  I should  be  happy  in 
possesing  your  observations  on  it  with  cander  and  freedom. 
Before  I conclude  give  me  Leave  to  recommend  to  your  notice 
the  Bearer  of  this  Letter,  Doer.  Jerves,  a worthy  friend  of  mine 
and  fond  of  painting.  Any  favours  shown  to  him  will  be  acknowl- 
edged with  the  same  Gratitude  as  if  they  were  to,  Sir,  your 
Most  Sin[c]ere  Friend, 

John  S.  Copley. 

1 See  John  Wilkes  to  Nathaniel  Barber , September  21,  1770.  Copley’s  only 
exhibit  in  1771  was  “A  Lady,  half  length.”  Society  of  Artists  of  Great  Britain, 
Catalogue  of  Exhibitions,  1771. 


1770 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


99 


Charles  Pelham  to  Henry  Pelham 

Newton,  Deer.  4,  1770. 

Dear  Bror, 

The  bearer  brings  busl.  Malt  for  our  Mama,  and  3 buss,  for 
Bror.  Copley,  which  being  good,  will  afford  you  a great  deal  of 
wholsome  Liquor. 

We  hear  Mrs.  Copley  is  safe  in  Bed,  .happily  deliver’d  of 
a fine  Girl.1  If  so  we  heartily  Rejoice  with  you  all,  especialy 
Mr.  Copley  and  Lady,  whom  we  Congratulate  on  this  happy 
event.  Hope  her  good  geting  up,  and  Pray  for  the  Life  and 
health  of  the  little  Lady.  Pray  acquaint  them  of  our  thus  sin- 
cerely interesting  ourselves  in  this  pleasing  occurrence. 

I am  not  unmindful  of  the  unhappy  situation  of  poor 
Thomas’s  Family,  and  to  relieve  the  Widow  as  much  as  is  in 
my  power  am  willing  to  take  Tommy,  and  do  my  best  for  him 
till  he  is  15  years  of  age,  Mrs.  Pelham  being  heartily  dispos’d 
to  do  her  part  for  his  well  being;  but  as  I have  experienc’d  the 
ill  effects  of  taking  a Child  and  not  having  them  Bound,  I am 
by  no  means  willing  to  engage  with  Tommy  unless  his  Mother 
is  free  and  willing  to  Bind  him  till  he  is  15  Years  old.  I should 
be  glad  you  would  let  her  know  this,  and  if  she  sees  fit  and 
promises  to  bind  him,  the  Boy  may  come  up  with  the  bearer, 
and  when  I come  to  Town  shall  bring  Indentures  to  execute, 
and  shall  engage  to  find  him  good  Bed  and  Board,  Cloathing 
and  Instruction,  in  all  which  the  honour  of  the  Family  will 
induce  me  to  go  beyond  what  is  common  in  such  Cases : I can 
say  no  more  upon  this  Head.2 

1 Elizabeth  Clarke  Copley,  1770-1866,  who  married  Gardiner  Greene. 

* “She  desired  me  to  present  her  kindest  Love  and  respects  to  you  and  my 
Sister  Pelham,  and  to  let  you  know  the  scence  she  has  of  the  kindness  you  will  do 
her  by  taking  Tommy:  She  expresses  the  greatest  pleasure  and  satisfaction  at 


IOO 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


1770 


Its  now  very  fine  wholsome  weather  and  a little  Tour  into 
the  Country  would  promote  any  one’s  health,  especially  the 
Sedentary  Persons;  I therefore  strenuously  recommend  your 
keeping  the  approaching  Thanksgiving  with  us,  but  take  me 
right;  I do  not  invite  you  to  a sumptuous  feast,  but  to  good 
wholsome  Country  Fare  with  undissembled  friendship.  If  this 
suits  you,  my  Doors  were  they  animated  with  my  Spirit  would 
at  your  approach  open  of  their  own  accord:  Your  Sister  Pelham 
joins  in  saying  we  shall  be  glad  to  see  you. 

I hope  our  hond.  Mama  is  well.  Pray  give  our  Duty  and 
Love  to  her,  and  with  Tender  Respects  to  you,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Copley,  I remain  Yr.  affecte  Bror. 

Chas.  Pelham. 

I should  be  glad  of  a Line  by  the  bearer,  as  such  kind  of 
Folks  rarely  deliver  a verbal  message  correct. 


Copley  to  [Charles  Willson  Peale] 

Boston,  Deer.  17,  1770. 

Dear  Sir, 

I received  your  favour  of  the  24  Novr:  Your  kind  present 
which  came  to  hand  in  good  order.  It  gave  me  a twofold 
pleasure  first  because  it  is  the  portrait  of  that  great  man,  in  the 
most  exalted  carractor  human  Nature  can  be  dignified  with 
that  of  a true  Patriot  vindicating  the  rights  of  mankind,  and 

having  him  under  your  Care  and  Government.  She  is  perfectly  willing  to  bind 
him,  and  has  sent  him  with  your  Man.”  Henry  Pelham  to  Charles  Pelham , 
December  4,  1770.  The  mother  of  this  Thomas  was  Hannah  Cooper  Gerrish 
Pelham,  widow  of  Thomas  Pelham.  They  were  married  in  1757  and  had  Eliza- 
beth, born  August  2,  1758;  Penelope,  born  March  6,  1760;  Thomas,  born  January 
4,  1762;  and  Mary,  born  November  17,  1766  — all  living  in  1780.  Thomas,  Jr., 
was  a baker,  married  Lydia  Robinson,  and  died  1802.  N.  E.  Hist.  Gen.  Reg. 
xxvi.  399. 


1770 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


IOI 


secondly  for  the  merit  of  the  work  itself  and  the  fair  prospect  it 
affoards  of  America  rivaling  the  continant  of  Europe  in  those 
refined  Arts  that  have  been  justly  esteemed  the  Greatest 
Glory  of  ancient  Greece  and  Rome.1  Go  on  Dear  Sir  to  hasten 
forward  that  happy  Era.  how  little  so  ever  my  natural  abillitys 
or  oppertunitys  of  improvement  may  be  adiquate  to  the  pro- 
moteing  so  great  a work  yet  I should  sincerely  partisipate  in  the 
pleasure  with  those  great  Souls  who  are  happily  possessed  of 
boath  in  a Soverain  Degre. 

The  Aligory  strikes  me  as  unexceptionable  in  every  part, 
and  fully  expressive  of  Ideas  designed  to  convey.  The  Attitude 
which  is  simple  is  possed  of  great  dignity  with  a becoming 
Energy,  and  from  what  the  print  expressd  I am  led  to  wish  to 
see  the  Original,  wher[e]  the  force  of  Colouring  give  Strength 
and  perfection  to  the  Clear  Obscure. 

Permit  me  to  conclud  with  my  sincere  thanks  for  the  kind 
notice  you  have  taken  of  me  and  subscribing  myself  your  sin- 
cere friend  and  Humble  Sert. 

J.  S.  C. 

A 

Description 
of  the 

Picture  and  Mezzotinto 

of 

Mr.  Pitt, 
done  by 

Charles  Willson  Peale, 
of  Maryland. 

The  Principal  Figure  is  that  of  Mr.  Pitt,  in  a Consular  Habit, 
speaking  in  Defence  of  the  Claims  of  the  American  Colonies,  on 
the  Principles  of  the  British  Constitution. 

• 1 See  next  paper. 


102 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


1770 


With  Magna  Charta  in  one  Hand,  he  points  with  the  other,  to 
the  Statue  of  British  Liberty,  trampling  under  Foot  the  Petition 
of  the  Congress  at  New-York.  — Some  have  thought  it  not  quite 
proper  to  represent  Liberty  as  guilty  of  an  Action  so  contrary  to 
her  genuine  Spirit;  for  that,  conducting  herself  in  strict  Propriety 
of  Character,  she  ought  not  to  violate,  or  treat  with  Contempt, 
the  Rights  of  any  one.  To  this  it  may  be  sufficient  to  say,  the 
Painter  principally  intended  to  allude  to  the  Observation  which 
hath  been  made  by  Historians,  and  Writers  on  Government,  that 
the  States  which  enjoy  the  highest  Degree  of  Liberty  are  apt  to  be 
oppressive  of  those  who  are  subordinate,  and  in  Subjection  to 
them.  Montesquieu,  speaking  of  the  Constitution  of  Rome,  and 
the  Government  of  the  Roman  Provinces,  says,  “La  Liberte  croit , 
dans  le  Centre  et  la  Tyrannic  aux  Extrimetes And  again,  “La 
Ville  ne  sentoit  point  la  Tyrannie , qui  ne  s’exercoit  que  sur  les 
Nations  Assujettis.”  And  supposing  Mr.  Pitt,  in  his  Oration,  to 
point,  as  he  does,  at  the  Statue,  it  makes  a Figure  of  Rhetoric 
strongly  and  justly  sarcastic  on  the  present  faint  Genius  of 
British  Liberty,  in  which  Light,  Gentlemen  of  Reading  and  Taste 
have  been  pleased  to  commend  it.  The  Fact  is,  that  the  Petition 
of  the  Congress  at  New-York,  against  Acts  of  meer  Power,  adverse 
to  American  Rights,  was  rejected  by  the  House  of  Commons,  the 
Guardians,  the  Genius,  of  that  Liberty,  languishing  as  it  is. 

1 An  Indian  is  placed  on  the  Pedestal,  in  an  erect  Posture,  with 
an  attentive  Countenance,  watching,  as  America  has  done  for 
Five  Years  past,  the  extraordinary  Motions  of  the  British  Senate 
- — He  listens  to  the  Orator,  and  has  a Bow  in  his  Hand,  and  a Dog 
by  his  Side,  to  shew  the  natural  Faithfulness  and  Firmness  of 
America. 

It  was  advised  by  some,  to  have  had  the  Indian  drawn  in  a 
dejected  and  melancholy  Posture:  And,  considering  the  apparent 
Weakness  of  the  Colonies,  and  the  Power  of  the  Parent  Country, 
it  might  not  perhaps,  have  been  improper  to  have  executed  it  in 
that  Manner;  but  in  Truth  the  Americans,  being  well  founded  in 
their  Principles,  and  animated  with  a sacred  Love  for  their  Country, 
have  never  disponded. 


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Copley -Pelham  Letters 


103 


An  Altar,  with  a Flame  is  placed  in  the  Foreground,  to  shew  that 
the  Cause  of  Liberty  is  sacred,  and,  that  therefore,  they  who 
maintain  it,  not  only  discharge  their  Duty  to  their  King  and  them- 
selves, but  to  God.  It  is  decorated  with  the  Heads  of  Sidney  and 
Hampden,  who,  with  undaunted  Courage,  spoke,  wrote,  and  died 
in  Defence  of  the  true  Principles  of  Liberty,  and  of  those  Rights 
and  Blessings  which  Great-Britain  now  enjoys:  For,  as  the  Ban- 
ner placed  between  them  expresses  it,  Sanctus  Amor  Patrice  dat 
Animum.  A Civic  Crown  is  laid  on  the  Altar,  as  consecrated  to 
that  Man  who  preserved  his  Fellow-Citizens  and  Subjects  from 
Destruction! 

The  View  of  W h 1 is  introduced  in  the  Back  Ground, 

not  meerly  as  an  elegant  Piece  of  Architecture,  but  as  it  was  the 

Place  where 2 suffered,  for  attempting  to  invade  the  Rights  of 

the  British  Kingdoms : And  it  is  observable,  that  the  Statue  and 
Altar  of  British  Liberty  are  erected  near  the  Spot  where  that  great 
Sacrifice  was  made,  through  sad  Necessity,  to  the  Honour,  Hap- 
piness, Virtue,  and  in  one  Word,  to  the  Liberty  of  the  British 
People. 

The  Petition  of  the  Congress  at  New-York,  and  the  Representa- 
tion of  W h point  out  the  Time,  and  almost  the  Place, 

where  the  Speech  was  delivered. 

The  chief  Object  of  this  Design  will  be  answered,  if  it  manifests, 
in  the  least,  the  Gratitude  of  America  to  his  Lordship.  It  will, 
with  Tradition,  unprejudiced  by  the  Writings  of  Hirelings,  who 
are  made  to  glide  in  with  the  courtly  Streams  of  Falshood,  be  the 
faithful  Conveyance  to  Posterity  of  the  Knowledge  of  those  Great 
Things  which  we,  who  are  not  to  be  imposed  on  by  “the  busy 
Doings  and  Undoings”  of  the  envious  Great,  have  seen. 

Extract  of  a Letter 3 

I am  pleased  with  your  Remarks  on  Mr.  Peale’s  Performance, 
but  wish  you  had  been  less  sparing  of  them  — A Incident  of 

1 Whitehall.  2 Charles  I. 

3 A broadside  measuring  7J  in.  X 12J  in. 


104 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


1770 


Yesterday  affords  me  Occasion  to  add  to  your  Remarks : — One  of 
the  Mezzotinto’s  was  brought  into  Company,  when  all  agreed  it 
was  Very  clever;  but  some  thought  it  “not  like  Mr.  Pitt.” 

You,  my  Friend  took  the  fair  Side,  and  remarked  only  on  the 
Beauties  of  the  Piece  — Pray  preserve  your  good  Humour  from 
being  ruffled  by  the  Objections  made  by  my  Companions,  and 
receive  what  occurs  to  me  on  the  Subject. 

Perhaps  it  was  hazardous  to  offer  to  the  Public  a Portrait  so 
unlike  the  old  Pictures,  which  have  been  long  known  among  us  — 
Very  few  have  Seen  any  other  Representation  of  the  Great  Man, 
and  we  know  how  Strongly  First  Impressions  work  on  the  Imagi- 
nation: And,  what  is  yet  more  disadvantageous  to  the  Painter, 
not  only  First  Impressions,  but  many  Years  intimate  Acquaint- 
ance with  the  old  Piece,  has  probably  So  fixed  that  Likeness  in  the 
Mind,  that,  were  Mr.  Pitt  himself  to  be  of  a Sudden  present,  and 
appear  a Contrast  to  those  Pieces,  there  would  not  be  a total 
Want  of  weak  Minds,  who  might  even  struggle  to  conceive  he  was 
like  himself  — preferring  the  Likeness  with  which  they  were  so 
intimate.  But  between  the  old  Copies  and  the  present,  I do  not 
see  that  great  Disparity  that  is  pretended:  Pray  attend  to  them, 
and  make  all  due  Allowances  — Twenty  Years  between  the 
Drawing  the  one  and  the  other  — such  Difference  in  his  Age!  — 
In  the  one  he  is  in  modern  Dress,  with  Neckcloth,  a Wig,  and  full 
Suit:  In  the  other,  with  his  natural  Hair,  a loose  Roman  Habit, 
and  Neck  bare.  I am  assured  that  Gentlemen,  who  had  seen  the 
Proof  Copy,  and  among  them,  Dr.  Franklin,  thought  Mr.  Peak’s 
a very  good  Likeness  of  the  Great  Patriot,  as  he  is  at  this  Time 
worn  down  with  Sickness  and  Years,  — and  with  Fatigue  in  the 
Service  of  his  Country. 

The  Pillar  at  the  Back  of  Mr.  Pitt  signifies  Stability  in  the 
Patriot  and  his  Principles.  — You  see  the  dark  lowering  Clouds, 
and  disturbed  Air,  representing  the  alarming  Times;  and  yet  at  a 
Distance,  you  observe  a calmer  Sky,  tho’  not  altogether  clear  — 
Hope  of  better  Times. 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


1771 


r°5 


Copley  to  John  Greenwood 

Boston,  Jany.  25,  1771. 

Dear  Sir, 

Your  very  kind  favour  of  March  23  came  to  hand  and 
afforded  me  much  pleasure,  as  by  it  I learned  you  were  in  a 
situation  of  all  others  the  most  desireable  to  the  Lovers,  boath 
of  the  fair  Sex  as  well  as  the  arts.  I trus[t]  you  will  excuse  my 
not  writeing  to  you  sooner,  but  really  my  ingagement  were 
so  many  as  to  make  it  some  what  dificult.  No  engagement 
should  have  hindred  me  from  answering  your  favour,  had  I 
not  fully  intended  to  have  finished  Mrs.  Devereux  portrait 
for  Capt.  Simms  to  have  carried,  but  was  prevented  from  my 
design  by  several  surcumstances,  the  most  meterial  that  of  the 
weither  being  so  very  hot  as  to  make  it  inconvenient  for  the 
Old  Lady  to  come  to  Town,  and  so  the  Letter  I posponed 
writeing  till  Capt.  Simms  sailed,  who  promisd  to  call  but  I 
suppose  forgot  it.  But  beleave  me  your  nex[t]  favour,  if  I 
should  omit  answering  so  long,  I will  make  a better  apology 
for  than  this.  But  trusting  in  your  goodness  I will  suppose 
myself  acquited  this  time,  and  proceed  to  other  matters.  First 
then  permit  me  to  congratulate  you  on  your  Marriage  in  which 
state  I sincerely  wish  you  Long  Life  and  all  Imaginable  happy- 
ness.  It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  find  the  Arts  travill[i]ng 
Westward  so  fast  it  gives  me  hopes  they  will  one  Day  reach 
this  Country  however  destitute  at  present  it  appears  of  every 
affection  for  them.  Your  tour  through  Europe  must  have 
affoarded  you  great  pleasure  and  the  more  so  as  you  have  had 
so  many  Capitol  Picture[s]  in  you[r]  possession.  I should  think 
myself  happy  in  such  an  oppertunity  of  contemplating  the 
works  of  those  Renowned  Masters.  I sincerely  rejoice  in  Mr 


io6 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1771 


West’s  successfull  progress  towards  the  summit  of  that  Mighty 
Mountain  where  the  Everlasting  Lauriels  grow  to  adoarn  the 
brows  of  those  Elustrious  Artists  that  are  so  favourd  of 
Heaven  as  to  be  able  to  unravel  the  intricate  mazes  of  its  rough 
and  perilous  Asent.  It  gives  me  pleasure  to  receive  your  Appro- 
bation of  the  Work  I have  Exibitted  heretofor,  and  am  sorry 
the  Distance  make  it  impossable  for  me  to  be  constant.  I 
should  be  glad  never  to  miss  an  exibition,  for  by  it  the  Arts  are 
kept  in  health  as  the  Body  is  by  Exercise.  I shall  be  happy  if 
the  portrait  that  accompanys  this  (of  your  Mother)is  approved. 
I shall  be  impatien[t]  to  hear  the  Criticisms  on  it.  Do  be  per- 
ticular  either  in  your  praises  or  condemnation  of  [it].  Dont  be 
afraid  that  finding  fault  with  it  will  have  any  other  effect  than 
to  make  me  more  assiduous  to  do  better,  nor  praising  than  to 
encouraging  me  to  be  diligent.  If  you  can  remember  the  others 
I should  be  glad  of  a comparison,  by  which  I shall  be  better 
able  to  judge  what  path  to  pursue  for  the  future  in  the  [un- 
finished] 

Petition  relative  to  the  Powder  House 

[January  29,  1771.] 

To  the  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston 
in  Town-meeting  Assembled. 

The  Petition  of  the  Subscribers,  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants 
in  the  town  of  Boston  humbly  sheweth.  That  (considering  the 
many  and  fatal  Accidents  that  happen  by  the  explosion  of 
Magazines  of  Powder  in  Large  popolouse  Citys)  your  peti- 
tioners apprehend  their  Lives  and  properties  in  common  with 
the  rest  of  their  fellow-Citizens  to  be  very  insecure  from  the 
powder  house  being  situate  where  it  now  is.  They  therefore  pray 
the  town  to  take  the  matter  into  their  serious  Consideration 


i77i  Copley -Pelham  Letters  107 

and  make  such  application  as  they  shall  think  effectual  for  its 
removal.  And  your  petitioners  as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray. 


Boston,  Jany.  29,  1771. 

Jno  Barrett. 

Edm:  Quincey. 

Danl.  Hubbard. 
Richard  Clarke. 

John  Winslow. 

Martin  Brimmer. 
Thos.  Leonard. 

Saml.  Prince. 

Adino  Paddock. 

Saml  Abbot. 

John  Timmins. 

David  Greene. 
Nicholas  Bowes. 

Wm:  Bowes. 

Thomas  Brattle. 
Benjn.  Edes. 

John  Gill. 

Paul  Revere. 

Nath.  Waterman. 
Edward  Holliday. 
John  Avery. 

Frans.  Johonnot. 
Rufus  Greene. 

John  Box. 


Benja.  Greene. 

Ja.  Richardson. 
William  Henshaw. 
Sam  Partridge. 
Samuel  Doggett. 
Saml.  Dashwood. 

Jno  Soley. 

John  Deming. 

Jos  Green. 

Nicho.  Boylston. 
Thos.  Flucker. 

James  Perkins. 

Sol.  Davis. 

James  Perkins. 

Silv.  Gardiner. 

W.  Molineaux. 
Joseph  Sherburne. 
Saml.  Eliot. 

Henry  Stanbridge. 
Ez  Price. 

Benj.  Church. 

John  Sweetser  Junr. 
Jonathan  Simpson. 


Nathl.  Gloover. 
Oliver  Greenleaf. 
Sa  Salisbury. 
Stephen  Cleverly. 
John  Amory. 
Herman  Brimmer. 
John  Gore. 

John  Moffatt. 
Nathl.  Balston. 
John  Scott. 

John  S.  Copl[e]y. 
Wm  Davis. 

James  Bowdoin. 
John  Erving. 

Thos.  Hubbard. 
William  Vassell. 
Wm.  Phillips. 
Stepn.  Greenleafe. 
Thomas  Cushing. 
John  Hancock. 
Saml.  Adams. 

Ph.  Dumaresq. 
Robt.  Pierpont. 


[Endorsed:]  Copy  of  the  Petition  relative  to  the  Powder 
House.1 


Charles  Pelham  to  Henry  Pelham 

Newton,  March  28,  1771. 

Dear  Bror., 

Ever  since  I enter’d  upon  House  keepg  we  have  had  almost 
constantly  one  or  otKer  in  our  Family  who  prov’d  a trouble  and 
a pest  to  us,  But  of  all  Creatures  that  ever  came  under  my  Roof 
1 See  Boston  Record  Commit sionersy  xvm.  44;  xxiii.  78,  79. 


io8  Copley -Pelham  Letters  1771 


Betty  Pelham 1 1 seriously  think  seems  to  be  the  worst,  and  has 
prov’d  an  affliction  to  us  almost  to  render  us  distracted.  On 
Friday  last  she  came;  we  receiv’d  her  kindly,  bid  her  welcome, 
and  did  all  in  our  power  to  convince  her  of  our  Sincerity;  On 
Saturday  she  threw  out  hints  of  a great  dislike  to  the  Country, 
and  a want  to  go  home,  go  home;  We  hearing  it,  soothed  her, 
told  her  the  strangeness  of  it  might  at  first  make  it  irksome,  but 
a little  use  would  render  it  more  agreeable,  especially  as  her 
Aunt  and  I shou’d  do  our  utmost  to  bring  her  up  in  Credit  and 
render  he[r]  capable  of  making  a Reputable  living;  On  Sunday 
she  fell  into  strange  kind  of  Fitts  of  what  sort  I cant  say,  for  by 
her  Pulse,  her  feeling  etc.  we  cou’d  not  discover  that  any  thing 
ailed  her,  and  cou’d  get  nothing  out  of  her  but  that  she  wou’d 
return  to  Boston  if  she  went  on  Foot,  for  she  should  die;  every 
thing  was  administer’d  that  could  be  thought  of,  but  she 
refus’d  taking  any  thing  and  would  spurt  out  what  was  put  into 
her  Mouth;  On  Monday  she  harpt  all  day  about  going  home. 
I told  her  she  should  not  go  home,  that  she  was  come  for  her 
own  good,  and  that  she  must  behave  better,  or  I should  find 
means  to  make  her;  On  Tuesday  she  fell  into  her  fitts  again; 
which  she  suddenly  threw  off  upon  the  approach  of  a good  Loin 
of  Veal  which  we  had  for  Dinner;  however  I thought  meat 
might  hurt  her  and  prescrib’d  a Porrenger  of  Water  Gruel; 
The  Doer,  coming  in,  We  desir’d  him  to  consider  her  case,  and 
after  examining  her,  he  only  hinted  that  she  was  somewhat  in 
the  case  of  Mary  Magdalene.  The  remainder  of  the  day  she 
continued  her  old  strain  of  dislike  to  the  Country  that  she  could 
not  bear  to  see  the  Trees,  and  must  go  home,  or  shou’d  die;  On 
Wednesday  her  fit,  (Damoniac  I could  almost  find  in  my  heart 

1 Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Hannah  Pelham.  She  married  William 
Higgins. 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1771 


109 


to  say)  came  on  again,  Mrs.  Pelham  told  her  to  go  up  stairs  and 
lay  down,  but  she  made  as  if  it  was  no  way  in  her  power  so  to 
do,  upon  which  Mrs.  Pelham  greatly  alarm’d  call[ed]  me. 
Upon  hearing  me  call’d  Madam  got  up  and  walk’d  upstairs. 
I went  up  to  her,  but  could  get  nothing  out  of  her,  only  that  she 
must  go  home  or  should  die.  I desir’d  Mrs.  Pelham  to  cause  a 
Bowl  of  Tea  to  be  made,  which  was  carried  to  her,  but  she  said 
she  would  not  touch  it,  nor  would  she  take  any  thing  at  all; 
but  we  found  in  a Drawer  a hoard  of  Milk  Bisket  which  she 
had  privately  conveyed  there,  I suppose  to  eat  when  she  chose 
to  be  in  her  fits ; she  says  her  Mother  told  her  at  parting  that  if 
she  did  not  like,  I must  send  her  back  again;  but  I cant  think 
her  Mother  wou’d  so  affront  me;  I have  now  sent  her  home,  and 
would  give  any  thing  that  I had  not  sent  for  her,  not  only  that 
we  sent  off  a Girl  which  we  had,  to  make  room  for  Betty,  which 
is  an  injury  to  us,  as  we  have  a sick  Child,  but  that  I would  not 
upon  any  Accot.  have  had  Mrs.  Pelham  so  frighted  and  per- 
plext.  Thus  have  I given  the  heads  of  Bettys  History  at  New- 
ton. Paper  would  fail  me  to  give  all  the  particulars,  but  as  I 
expect  to  be  in  Town  in  a few  days  shall  then  let  our  Mama 
know  this  matter  more  fully.  If  you  have  opportunity  shall  be 
glad  you  may  let  Bettys  Mother  know  the  Contents  hereof,  but 
dont  give  her  this  Letter,  as  I have  no  Copy  of  it,  and  shou’d 
chuse  it  might  be  with  you  as  a Register  of  what  I aver  to  be 
fact:  I own  I blame  my  Self  for  taking  her  after  what  your 
Mama  said  of  her,  who  I now  further  find  is  a good  judge  of 
Mankind.  I talk’d  with  Doer.  Spring  1 concerning  the  size  of 

the  Cloth  which  was  to  contain  his  Portrait,  he  said  he  knew 

% 

nothing  about  it,  and  wou’d  leave  it  to  you.  I recommended 
the  half  length,  to  which  he  readily  agreed,  and  is  ready  to  Set. 

1 Rev.  Samuel  Spring. 


no 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


1771 


I have  not  had  good  oppertunity  to  speak  to  Mr.  Meriam  about 
his  Daughters,  but  shall  do  it  soon,  in  the  mean  time  hope  to 
see  you  here,  and  think  the  sooner  you  can  begin  with  Doer. 
Spring  the  better,  however  my  desire  to  serve  you  may  lead  me 
astray,  and  will  therefore  leave  it  to  your  own  and  Mama’s 
consideration. 

Hilly  has  got  pretty  well,  Chas.  is  still  very  poorly  but  we 
hope  mending.  I hope  our  Mama  is  at  least  as  well  as  usual, 
pray  present  her  our  joint  Duty  and  Love.  Mr.  Copley  and 
Lady  with  their  little  Dear  I hope  are  well,  pray  give  our  Love 
to  them.  I think  I need  not  say  that  whenever  it  suits  you  to 
come  to  Newton  we  shall  be  very  glad  to  see  you,  I hope  you 
are  convinc’d  of  that;  Accept  our  hearty  Love  and  good  wishes, 
and  Recognise  me  as  Dear  Harry,  Yr.  Very  affecte. 

Chas.  Pelham. 

If  Mr.  Copley  has  got  the  Oyl  he  spoke  of  should  be  glad  the 
bearer  might  bring  6 Flasks.  I inclose  a Line  to  Bettys  Mother 
pray  Seal  it  and  let  her  have  it. 

Henry  Pelham  to  Charles  Pelham 

Boston,  March  29,  1771. 

My  Dear  Brother, 

Your  Letter  of  yesterday,  gave  me  a Narrative  of  Behavour, 
the  most  surprising  I think  I ever  met -with.  To  see  a girl  of 
Betty’s  Age,  who  can  receive  no  advantages  from  her  Station 
or  Rank  in  Life,  or  from  her  Parents  Character,  taken  from 
poverty  and  Misery,  placed  in  a Family  where  she  might  have 
had  all  the  Benefitts  of  Example,  Education  and  Instruction, 
have  been  brought  up  in  a way,  in  which  she  might  have 
enjoyed  Happiness,  have  been  a Comfort  to  her  Friends  and  a 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


hi 


177 


Credit  to  herself,  to  see  a Girl  with  such  Advantages,  forfeit  all 
favour  [of]  her  Friends,  deliberately,  and  with  such  Agrevated 
Circumstances  spurn  and  reject  their  profered  Kindness,  and 
return  to  her  native  Obscurity,  shews  such  a depravity  of 
Heart,  such  a totall  want  of  every  generouse  and  humane 
Sentiment,  a proneness  to  Vice  and  Folly,  as  truly  astonishing, 
as  Malencholly.  When  that  ruin  is  compleated,  to  which  she 
seems  to  [be]  hastily  advancing,  your  and  my  Sisters  Trouble 
(in  which  we  sincerely  pertake)  I doubt  not  will  be  fully  recom- 
penced,  by  the  heartfelt  Satisfaction,  of  having  Offered  that 
Assistance,  and  protection,  which  she  has  so  disgracefully 
refused.  I communicated  the  contents  of  your  Letter  to  her 
Mother  she  expressed  the  greatest  Affliction,  and  uneasiness, 
said  she  was  very  sorry,  you  had  so  much  trouble  and  Vexsa- 
tion,  and  would  be  glad  to  see  you  when  you  come  to  town.  We 
are  much  pleased  to  hear  of  Coun.  Hilly’s  recovery,  hope 
Charles  will  soon  enjoy  his  former  health.  I return  my  sin- 
cere thanks  for  your  kindness  in  procuring  me  Buisness  at 
Newton. 

The  kind  expressions  of  your  Attachment  likewise  calls  for 
my  warmest  acknowledgements.  The  Affability  and  kindness 
I have  experienced  from  you  and  my  Sister  assure  me  of  your 
sincere  Affection.  Be  assured  of  a hearty  Welcome,  whenever 
your  Bu[s]iness  calls,  or  permits  you  to  come  to  Boston,  where 
we  long  to  see  you.  My  Mamma,  who  is  as  well  as  can  be 
expected,  with  Brother  and  Sister  Copley,  join  me  in  Love  and 
Respects  to  yourself,  my  Sister  Pelham,  and  Cousins.  I am, 
Dear  Sir,  with  greaj:  truth  and  regard,  Your  Affectionate 
Brother,  and  most  Obliged  Humble  Sert. 


Henry  Pelham. 


I I 2 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1771 


Captain  Stephen  Kemble 1 to  Copley 

[Before  April  17th  1771.] 

Mr.  Copely  will  inform  Captain  Kemble  if  he  inclines  to 
come  to  New  York  in  the  Spring,  or  Summer.  If  he  does,  he 
will  specify  the  time  he  proposes  to  stay,  and  the  number  of 
Picktures  he  would  undertake  to  draw,  and  mention  his  Price 
for  Busts,  half  Lengths,  and  whole  lengths,  of  Men,  Women, 
and  Children.  Capt.  Kemble  will  then  send  Mr.  Copely,  the 
Names  of  those,  who  will  employ  him,  that  Mr.  Copely  may  be 
at  a Certainty. 

Copley  to  Captain  Stephen  Kemble 

[No  date.] 

Sir, 

Major  Goldthwait  communicated  to  me  your  memorandom 
desireing  to  know  the  price  of  the  Different  sizes  of  portrait  and 
what  number  I would  undertake  to  do  at  New  York. 

As  to  the  number  it  will  be  determined  by  the  time  it  may  be 
in  my  power  to  stay,  should  I go  in  May  toward  the  end  of  the 
Month  and  sooner  it  will  not  be  in  my  power  to  go  and  come 
away  in  Sepr.  I may  be  able  to  engage  12  or  15  half  Lengths,  or 
in  proportion  to  that,  reck[on]ing  whole  Length  as  two  half 
Length[s],  and  half  Length  Doubfle]  the  busts.  More  I could 
not  engage  without  a Longer  stay,  and  I can  not  say  at  present 
it  would  be  in  my  power  to  stay  beyond  that  time,  tho  this  is 
not  quite  certain.  The  pric[e]  of  Whole  Lengths  40  Guineas, 
half  Length  20,  % peices  or  Busts  10.  Weither  Men  or  Weomen 
makes  110  difference]  in  the  pric[e]  nor  does  the  Dress;  but  Chil- 

1 See  New  York  Hist.  Soc.  Collections , 1883,  1884.  He  held  a commission  of 
captain  in  the  British  army  from  January  24,  1765,  in  the  60th  Regiment,  com- 
manded by  Jeffrey  Amherst. 


I77I 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


ll3 


dren  in  the  % peaces  will  be  more,  because  of  the  addition  of 
hands,  which  there  must  be  when  a Child  is  put  in  that  size;  1 
but  should  the  hands  be  omitted,  the  picture  may  be  smaller 
and  than  the  price  will  be  the  same  as  for  a Mans  or  Womans 
without  hands.  But  if  hands  they  will  be  something  more  tho 
the  pric[e]  will  be  not  exceeding  15.  According  to  maner  size  of 
the  Picture  you  will  see  by  this  my  pric[e]  is  greater  I have  set 
than  what  I have  here.  But  the  Reasons  are  so  obvious  why  it 
should  be  that  I think  it  needless  to  menshon  them  [fragment] 

Captain  Stephen  Kemble  to  Copley 

New  York,  17th  April,  1771. 

Sir, 

I am  sorry  a short  absence  of  mine,  and  a little  negligence  on 
the  part  of  some  who  were  desired  to  procure  subscribers  to 
your  Terms,  has  been  the  means  of  delaying  an  Answer  to  your 
Letter  of  the  20th  of  March.  But  I have  now  the  pleasure  to 
acquaint  you  that  twelve  ]/2  lengths  are  subscribed  for  (two 
Busts  to  a half  Length,)  and  I make  no  doubt  as  many  more  will 
be  had  as  your  time  will  permit  you  to  take.  I hope  this  de- 
lay in  answering  your  Letter  will  not  prevent  you  from  under- 
taking your  Journey  to  this  place  I am  Sir  Your  most  Obedient 
Servant, 

Steph.  Kemble. 

List  of  Subscribers 

[April  17,  1771.] 

We  the  undermerition’d  Persons  do  promise  to  have  our  Pic- 
tures drawn  by  Mr.  'Copley,  agreable  to  the  Sizes  set  opposite  to 
our  Names.  — 


1 Erased:  “which  is  not  the  case  with  grown  people.” 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


1771 


114 


Lengths 

Mrs.  Gage 

Mr.  Ogilvie1 2 

Miss  Johnston3 

Captain  Maturin4 * 

J.  Mallet 6 

Mrs  Morris6 


half  Lengths 
2 


1 


Busts 


1 

1 

1 

1 


[The  rest  of  the  page  has  been  lost] 

Lengths | Lengths Busts 

Captain  and  Mrs.  Montresor7 2 

Mr  Barrow 1 

Mr.  Sherbrook8 1 

Mrs  Me.  Evers 9 

Mrs.  Mortier10 

M Hust  and  Lady 

Mr  Kemp11 

1 It  is  uncertain  whether  this  figure  was  intended  to  be  erased. 

2 Probably  Rev.  John  Ogilvie  (1722-1774),  assistant  at  Trinity  Church, 
New  York. 

3 Thus  far,  and  possibly  the  next  name,  in  Kemble’s  handwriting. 

4 Gabriel  Maturin  was  a captain  in  the  31st  Regiment,  from  June  17,  1767. 

6  There  was  a Jonathan  Mallet,  a surgeon  of  the  46th  Regiment,  from  August 
3i,  1757- 

6 Probably  Mrs.  Roger  Morris,  a sister  of  Frederick  Phillips,  proprietor  of 
Phillipsborough  and  a loyalist. 

7 John  Montresor,  whose  “Journals”  are  in  the  New  York  Hist.  Soc.  Collections , 
1881. 

8 Miles  Sherbrook.  See  Journals  and  Correspondence  of  Samuel  Blackley  Webb. 

9 See  Copley  to  Pelham,  August  17, 1771.  James  McEvers,  and  his  son  Charles, 
were  the  leading  representatives  of  this  family. 

10  Abraham  Mortier,  a deputy  paymaster-general. 

11  John  Taber  Kemp  was  attorney-general  of  the  province  of  New  York. 


1 

2 


i77i 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1I5 


Henry  Pelham  to  Henry  and  Thomas  Bromfield 1 

Boston,  June  6,  1771. 

Gentlemen, 

Mr  Copley,  before  he  sat  out  for  New  York,  desired  me  to 
transmitt  a memorandum  of  some  Articles,  which  as  he  is  in 
great  want  of  he  requests  you  would  ship  by  the  very  first 
Opertunity.2  You  will  oblige  him  by  being  perticular  as  to  the 
Size  and  Quality  of  the  Glass  there  being  a great  Difference  in 
the  Thickness  and  Clearness  of  the  New  Castle  Crown,  some  of 
it  being  not  inferior  to  the  London  Crown.  You  will  please  to 
procure  the  Cloths  of  the  very  best  kind,  the  last  you  sent  not 
being  equal  in  goodness  to  the  price.  The  inclosed  Bill  you  will 
pass  to  his  Credit.  As  my  Brother  resides  all  Summer  at  New 
York,  you  will  direct  the  things  to  me  at  this  place.  I am  Gentle- 
men your  most  Obedient,  Humble  Sert. 

Henry  Pelham. 

Memorandum 

185  Squares  of  very  best  New  Castle  Crown  Glass  each  square 
measuring  io§  Inchs.  by  14!  Inchs. 

200  lb.  Wt.  of  ground  White  Lead. 

50  lb  of  putty. 

2 ozs.  of  finest  Vermillion. 

1 pint  poppy  Oil. 

3 pound  Brushes. 

3 half  pound  Do. 

12  half  Length  Cloths. 

6 kitkat  Do. 

12  i Do. 

1 Merchants,  London.  Henry  Bromfield  married  Hannah  Clarke,  a sister  of 
Mrs.  Copley. 

2 Erased:  “and  which  in  case  of  a War,  he  begs  you  to  insure.” 


Copley  -Pelham  Letters 


1771 


1 1 6 


12  Hog  hair  tools  of  the  smallest  Size  for  portraits]. 
3 Oz.  Italian  White  Cha[l]k. 

2 Oz  Italian  Black  Do. 


Benjamin  West  to  Copley 

London,  June  16th,  1771. 

Sir, 

It  was  with  great  pleasure  I received  your  letter  by  Dr 
Jarves  as  it  informed  me  of  your  health  and  your  intentions  of 
Coming  to  Europe.  I am  still  of  the  Same  opinion,  that  it  will 
every  way  answer  your  Expectations,  and  I hope  to  see  you  in 
London  in  the  corse  of  this  year,  Where  I shall  be  happy  in 
rendering  you  all  the  Service  lays  in  my  Power. 

Your  Picture  of  Mrs.  Greenwood  was  exhibited  and  did  great 
honour.1  The  other  Picture  you  mentioned  I have  not  seen  but 
I hear  them  much  spoke  of.  The  arts  Continue  to  receive  great 
in  Corragement.  To  London  at  preassent  seems  to  be  the  onely 
place  in  Europe  where  a man  is  rewarded  for  his  productions  in 
the  Art  of  painting.  You  will  excuse  the  shortness  of  this  letter 
and  be  assur’d  I am  with  great  respect,  Your  Obediend  Huml. 
Servt. 

B.  West. 

Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

New  York,  16  of  June,  1771. 

Dear  Harry, 

We  are  now  fixed  in  a very  comodious  House  in  this  City. 
We  arrived  here  on  Thursday  night  and  our  Journey  perfectly 
agreable,  and  has  contributed  a great  deal  to  my  looks.  I can- 

1 In  the  catalogue  of  1771,  it  appears  as  “A  lady,  half  length.”  Anderson, 
who  saw  the  picture  at  Lord  Lyndhurst’s  sale  in  1864,  describes  it  as  the  portrait 
of  an  old  lady  leaning  on  a Pembroke  table. 


o 

fO/t  / / 


r/f/ty  /f/o/  / fu/ft  /*'  y 
• ftor/t  ////>  oify/Vt/f  / m(// t i/?fs/i<4 <> 

S/ts>  yo.i.if.Mfm,  of'.  //>.  (6'y/<>y  fy/Uvruy 


*771 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


17 


not  say  Sukey  has  improved  so  much  in  looks  as  myself,  tho 
she  is  very  well.  Our  Journey  was  not  attended  by  the  least 
unpleasing  surcumstance,  but  was  delightfull  beyond  all  ex- 
pectation. Our  Horses  held  out  wonderfully  well  and  brought 
us  with  great  spirit  forty  Miles  the  last  Day  of  our  Journey. 
I come  now  to  say  somthing  of  this  place,  but  really  I have  not 
been  yet  able  to  attend  to  anything  but  that  of  getting  myself 
a little  settled,  that  I may  go  to  Business,  and  I beleave  you 
will  think  I have  done  pretty  well  to  be  ready  to  begin  Mrs. 
Gages  portrait  tomorrow,  which  I propose  to  do,  considering  I 
have  had  but  friday  and  Saturday  to  Deliver  several  Letters 
and  get  suitable  Lodging.  The  City  has  more  Grand  Buildings 
than  Boston,  the  streets  much  Cleaner  and  some  much  broader, 
but  it  is  not  Boston  in  my  opinion  yet.  I have  seen  the  Statues 
of  the  King  and  Mr  Pitt,  and  I think  them  boath  good  Statues. 
I find  it  so  expencive  keeping  horses  here  that  I think  to  send 
the  Mare  back.  Mr.  Joy  will  take  her,  if  he  is  not  provided. 
This  you  will  let  me  know  by  the  next  post.  You  may  assure 
him  she  is  as  good  to  the  full  as  he  thought  her.  I beleive  he 
cannot  easily  get  so  good  a Creature.  He  offered  me  fifty-five 
Dollars,  so  do  you  agre  with  him  according  to  your  own  dis- 
cression,  and  I will  send  her  by  the  next  post,  and  take  the 
chance  of  Buying  in  the  fall.  I want  my  Crayons  much  and 
Layman  and  Drawings.  Do  see  Mr.  Loyd,  and  find  when  Smith 
will  sail,  for  I shall  not  be  able  to  do  long  without  them.  Cloath 
there  is  anoughhere:  Give  our  affectionate  Duty  to  our  Mamma. 
We  long  to  hear  from  you.  Hope  you  have  wrote  by  this  post, 
but  I cant  know  till  to  morrow.  We  are  ancious  to  know  how 
Betsey  is.  let  Mr.  Clarke  know  we  are  well  and  send  our  Duty. 
I am  your  Affectionate  Brother, 


J.  S.  Copley. 


1 18 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1771 


You  will  find  in  one  of  the  Draws  of  the  Desk  some  Gold 
Buttonholes.  Do  send  me  3 or  4 of  the  Best  of  them  when  you 
send  the  other  things,  or  shall  write  by  a private  hand. 

Benjamin  West  to  Shrimpton  Hutchinson 1 

Sir, 

Mr.  Temple  having  made  Application  to  me  in  behalf  of 
your  Son’s  studying  the  Art  of  Painting  under  me,  and  finding 
my  Objection  to  having  Young  Gentlemen  in  my  House  as 
Students  for  a certain  Number  of  Years,  the  Particulars  of 
which  Mr.  Temple  will  inform  you.  Tho’  this  may  deprive 
your  Son  of  coming  to  England  for  some  Years  longer,  yet  in 
my  Opinion  it  will  by  no  Means  prevent  his  being  a Painter. 
If  it  so  happens  that  he  should  not  come  to  England,  my 
Advice  is  that  he  may  be  indulged  in  the  Pursuit  of  the  Art 
by  his  own  Observations  after  Nature,  and  that  he  may  the 
more  speedily  accomplish  it,  I beg  he  may  be  permitted  the 
Use  of  Colours,  tho’  this  is  not  the  modern  Receipt  to  make 
a Painter.  Yet  if  I can  judge  from  the  Works  of  the  great 
Masters,  who  are  dead,  they  thought  an  early  Knowledge  of 
Colours,  and  the  Use  of  the  Brush  highly  necessary.  For  Exam- 
ple, Raphael  and  several  other  great  Painters  of  those  Times 
painted  many  fine  Pictures  (which  are  now  to  be  seen)  before 
they  had  obtained  the  Age  of  fifteen;  so  it  appears  evident  to 
me,  the  great  Object  they  had  in  View  was  to  surmount,  early 
in  Life,  the  mechanical  Difficultys  of  Painting,  that  is  the 
Handling  of  the  Pencil  and  the  Management  of  Colours,  that 
their  Hand  might  keep  pace  with  their  Ideas,  so  as  to  receive 

1 There  are  two  copies  of  this  letter,  with  trifling  variations.  They  were 
inclosed  in  Shrimpton  Hutchinson’s  letter  to  Copley  dated  August  24,  1771.  It 
is  possible  that  the  one  here  printed  is  the  original  sent  to  Mr.  Hutchinson, 
though  it  is  not  in  West’s  handwriting.  See  postscript.  Shrimpton  Hutchinson, 
born  September  10,  1713,  was  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  Hutchinson. 


77 1 Copley -Pelham  Letters  119 


Pleasure  from  their  Performances.  This  convinces  me  that 
young  Artists  should  receive  great  Pleasure  from  what  they 
do,  as  it  is  that  alone  can  compensate  for  the  great  Fatigue 
which  must  arise  from  the  prodigeous  Length  of  Time  necessary 
to  make  a painter,  let  him  have  ever  so  great  a Share  of  Genius. 
I mention  this  that  he  may  early  in  Life  be  acquainted  with  the 
Making  of  Pictures,  and  qualify  himself  for  a Painter,  and  not 
a Drawing  Master.  You  have  a strong  Instance  on  your  Side 
of  the  Water  (in  Mr.  Copley)  to  what  a Length  a Man  may  carry 
the  Art  by  his  own  Assiduity.  He  is  better  qualified  for  coming 
to  Europe  now  than  he  was  seven  Years  ago.  If  it  is  not  con- 
venient for  your  Son  to  come  to  England,  let  him  advance 
himself  as  Mr.  Copley  has  done,  and  he  will  find  himself  equal 
to  the  first  in  Europe.  I should  think  from  what  I have  heard 
of  Mr.  Copley  he  would  have  a pleasure  in  communicating  to 
him  the  Knowledge  of  Colours.  I write  my  Opinion  on  this 
Matter  with  greater  Warmth  than  I should  have  done,  had  I 
not  been  once  in  your  Son’s  Situation,  which  I have  found  since 
my  Arrival  in  Europe  was  the  most  fortunate  Circumstance 
that  could  have  happen’d  to  me : My  having  no  other  Assistance 
but  what  I drew  from  Nature  (the  Early  Part  of  my  Life  being 
quite  obscured  from  Art)  this  grounded  me  in  the  Knowledge 
of  Nature,  while  had  I come  to  Europe  sooner  in  Life,  I should 
have  known  nothing  but  the  Receipts  of  Masters. 

If  at  any  Time  I can  be  of  Use  to  your  Son,  by  communicatg. 
my  Thoughts  to  him,  either  in  America  or  England,  I shall 
with  the  greatest  Pleasure  do  it.  I am,  Sir,  your  most  obedi- 
ent humble  Servant,  TTr 

Eenja.  West. 

London,  18th  June,  1771. 

PS.  You  will  excuse  Incorrectness  as  Illness  prevented  me 
writing  the  above  Letter. 


I 20 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1771 


Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

New  York,  June  20,  1771. 

Dear  Harry, 

I must  not  omit  so  good  an  oppertunity  as  the  present  to  let 
you  know  we  are  well,  and  that  painting  much  engages  the 
attention  of  people  in  this  City  and  takes  up  all  my  time.  I 
have  begun  three  portraits  already,  and  shall  as  soon  as  time 
permits  fill  my  Room  which  is  a very  large  one.  We  have 
experienced  great  sivility  from  several  people,  as  well  from 
those  to  whom  we  were  recommendfed]  as  others  into  whose 
knowledge  we  have  fallen  here.  The  Gentleman1  who  is  the 
bearer  of  this  is  desireous  of  seeing  my  Room  in  Boston. 
You  ’1  therefore  weit  on  him,  and  be  kind  anough  to  go  to  Mr. 
Clarkes  and  let  the  family  know  we  are  well,  and  shall  write  to 
them  by  Mr.  Loring  who  goes  from  this  place  on  Monday  next. 
We  desire  our  most  Affectionate  Duty  to  our  Mamma,  to  Mr. 
Clarke,  Love  to  your  self  and  all  our  Brothers  and  Sisters.  We 
are  very  impatient  to  hear  from  you  and  Mr.  Clarke’s  family. 
Do  write  us  by  the  first  oppertunity.  As  it  grows  late,  I must 
conclude  with  subscribeing  my  self  your  Affectionate  Brother, 

John  Singleton  Copley. 

PS  our  compts.  to  Miss  Peggy  McElvain  and  all  friends. 

Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 

Boston,  June  23,  1771. 

My  dear  Brother, 

By  your  favour  of  the  16,  we  had  the  pleasure,  the  inexpress- 
able  Pleasure,  of  hearing  of  your  and  my  dear  Sisters  being 

1 Mr.  Harmonside. 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


I 2 I 


1771 


commodiously  fixed  at  New  York,  after  the  agreable  and  safe 
Journey,  which  you  say,  has  contributed  so  much  to  your  looks. 
We  are  greatly  Rejoyced  to  find  that  you  are  so  well,  hope  the 
change  of  Air  and  Exercise  will  confirm  your  and  my  Sisters 
health.  It  is  with  pleasure  that  I can  inform  you  that  our 
Hond.  Mamma  (whose  kind  Love  and  best  Wishes  she  desires 
may  be  presented  to  your  self  and  Lady)  has  been  in  very  tol- 
erable Health  for  her,  since  you  left  us. 

I saw  a few  days  ago,  my  Cousin  Betzey,  at  Roxbury,  she  is 
as  hearty  and  well,  as  when  you  saw  her.  she  is  I think  the 
finest  Child  of  her  Age  of  any  in  New  England.  Now  I am 
speaking  of  Children,  I must  not  omitt  informing  you,  of  an 
Occurrance,  which  has  afforded  us  a great  deal  of  Entertain- 
ment as  well  as  Satisfaction,  on  Saterday  afternoon  the  15 
(as  if  inspired)  took  a Horse  and  Chaise,  called  and  saw  my 
little  Friend,  as  above,  and  thence  proceeded  to  Newton,  to 
spend  the  Sunday.  I had  a pleasant  and  agreable  time  ’till 
Sunday  Eveng.  10  o’Clock,  when  my  Sister  Pelham  was  taken 
very  ill,  and  after  sending  1 5 Miles  for  a Doctr.  was  safely 
delivered  the  next  Morning,  of  a fine  Son,  whom  they  call 
Peter.  Since  which  my  Brother  informs  me  by  Letter,  that 
“she  is  as  Cleaver  as  can  be  expected  for  one  in  her  case”  He 
farther  says,  “ When  you  write  to  Mr  Copley  please  present  our 
kind  Love  and  Regards  to  him  and  Lady , and  you  will  naturally 
inform  him  of  the  late*  interesting  event  in  my  Family , of  which 
we  may  say , you  was  almost  an  Eye  Witness .”  Mr  Clarke  and 
Family  are  all  very  well.  I communicated  your  Letter  to  them, 
they  were  exceedingly  pleased  to  hear  of  your  safe  arrival, 
desire  their  kind  Love  to  you  and  my  Sister.  I spoke  to  Mr. 
Joy  relative  to  the  Mare,  he  says  it  is  not  reasonable  that  he 
should  give  the  five  dollers  he  offered  for  the  Bargain,  ’tho  he 


122 


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1771 


still  stands  ready  to  take  her  at  the  price  you  gave,  provided 
she  returns  safe  and  sound,  of  this  you  will  inform  me  more 
particularly  the  next  post.  About  a Week  ago  Mr  Otis1  called 
upon  me.  told  me  that  you  had  left  some  Money  with  me,  for 
him,  and  would  be  glad  if  I could  let  him  have  it.  I told  him 
you  had  left  sundry  Debts  to  collect,  that  I had  not  yet  got 
them  in,  but  that  I hoped  it  would  soon  be  in  my  Power  to 
wait  upon  him.  I shall  wait  your  express  Orders  with  regard 
to  this  Affair.  I have  not  been  able  to  find,  but  that  he  is  as 
well,  as  he  used  to  be.  And  I hope,  will  be  capable  of  defending 
your  case.  You  will  consider  weither  (as  his  purse  from  his 
long  Confinement  may  be  low)  he  may  not  if  he  dont  soon 
receive  his  Fee,  get  affronted  and  soured,  and  neglect  if  not 
abandon  your  case.  He  told  me,  that  it  was  determined,  that 
there  should  be  no  adjournment  of  the  Court.  So  that  the  tryal 
must  be  in  the  begining  of  September,  if  it  is  to  come  on  this 
Fall,  you  will  do  well  likewise  to  consider,  weither  if  you  have 
Mr.  Otis  and  Coll.  Putnam2  it  would  not  be  best  to  have  the 
Case  tryed  at  the  next  term.  Mr.  Otis  told  me  that  the  bill  for 
the  removal  of  the  Powder  House,  has  had  three  readings,  and 
past  the  House,  so  that  it  seems  now  to  be  in  a very  fair  Way; 
in  my  next,  I hope  to  be  able  to  inform  you  that  it  is  enacted. 
The  Repairs  go  on  very  briskly,  the  upper  House  will  be  in 
motion  to  Morrow.3  It  is  I think  the  unanimouse  Opinion  of 
all  your  Friends,  that  the  Expence  is  not  at  all  adequate  to  the 
looks,  of  a hiped  Roof  upon  the  upper  House.  The  plan  they 

1 James  Otis  (1725-1783),  then  suffering  from  the  effects  of  an  assault  made 
upon  him  by  Robinson,  a Commissioner  of  the  Customs. 

2 James  Putnam,  of  Worcester,  in  whose  office  John  Adams  studied  law.  He 
left  Massachusetts  a loyalist,  and  settled  in  Fredericton,  New  Brunswick. 

3 Copley’s  house  on  Mount  Vernon,  the  land  owned  by  Copley  extending  from 
Joy  Street  to  low  water  mark. 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


123 


1771 


think  is  in  every  other  respect  perfectly  compleat,  but  the  want 
of  that,  they  look  upon,  as  a very  great  Omission.  Aided  by 
their  Advice,  I have  ventured  to  give  orders  for  its  being  done 
in  that  manner;  as  the  time  would  not  admitt  of  consulting  you. 
Mr  Lechmere1  was  a few  days  ago,  at  your  place,  he  told  the 
workmen,  that  he  thought  it  one  of  the  finest  Situations  in  the 
Province,  and  that  had  he  have  known  of  it,  he  would  have 
bought  it  at  all  events;  will  this  please  you?  Smith  sails  per- 
haps in  a fortnight,  perhaps  a Month,  is  quite  uncertain  which. 
I have  twenty  things  to  ask,  twenty  to  say,  but  have  only 
Room  to  subscribe  myself  with  my  most  Affectionate  Regards 
to  my  Sister,  Your  Loving  Brother, 

Henry  Pelham. 

PS.  Write  often  and  send  no  blank  Paper. 

Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 

Boston,  July  7,  1771. 

My  dear  Brother, 

I have  to  acknowledge  the  Receipt  of  your’s  (per  Mr 
Harmonside)  of  the  20  of  June,  which  gave  us  the  pleasure  of 
knowing  that  you  and  my  Sister  were  well  at  that  time.  Mr 
Loring  ar[r]ived  here  last  Fryday  Eveng.  but  as  we  have  not 
yet  received  your  Letter  we  can  only  know  that  you  was  well 
when  he  left  york,  that  you  had  began  severall  pictures,  and 
had  received  an  Invitation  from  Philadelphia  but  had  refused 
to  go.  he  further  informd  us  that  you  had  not  received  your 
trunk  from  Providence  which  surprised  me  as  your  not  men- 
tion[in]g  it  in  your  Letters  made  me  suppose  you  had  duly 

1 Richard  Lechmere,  of  Boston,  who  died  in  England  in  1818,  having  left 
Massachusetts  with  other  loyalists. 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


I77I 


I 24 


received  it.  I was  extreemly  dissapointed  in  not  having  a 
Letter  by  the  post  the  last  Eveng  as  it  might  have  been  wrote 
a Week  after  Mr.  Loring  Left  New  york.  My  Mamma  is  as 
well  as  can  be  expected  for  her.  she  desires  her  kindest  Love  to 
yourself  and  My  Sister,  begs  you  would  write  by  every  Oper- 
tunity . I saw  little  Betsey  the  last  Thursday,  she  is  exceeding 
hearty  and  well.1  Mr.  Clarke  and  Family  are  all  very  well.  It  is 
with  pleasure  That  I communicate  two  peices  of  Intelligence 
which  I doubt  not  will  give  you  some  Satisfaction.  The 
Powder-house  bill  is  passed  into  a Law  in  which  it  is  ordered 
that  there  should  be  two  Magazines  erected,  one  in  the  town  of 
Watertown,  the  other  at  the  Back  of  the  Hills  near  the  Pest 
House.2  The  Generali  Court  have  appointed  a Committee 
(amongst  whom  is  Mr.  Hancock)  to  build  the  Magazines  with 
all  Convenient  Speed.3  Thus  has  this  affair  so  long  wish’d  for 
and  heretofore  unsuccessfully  attempted  been  brought  about 
by  a little  Assiduity  and  Aplication.  I saw  Mr  Pepperrell  last 
thursday  he  told  me  that  he  and  Mrs.  pepperrell  had  determined 
to  keep  Lucy  as  they  like  her  exceedingly  and  think  she  is  the 
best  Servant  they  have  met  with.4  He  invited  me  to  dine  with 
him  the  next  day  when  he  paid  me  4o£  sterg  for  her.  Luce 
herself  is  very  much  pleased  with  her  place.  Ag[r]eable  to 
contract  with  Mr.  Joy  I have  made  the  first  payment  of  a 
ioo£  L.M.  He  has  got  the  upper  house  to  its  place.  You 
cannot  Imagine  how  much  it  has  improved  that  side  of  the 

1 First  draft:  “has  got  a most  noble  pair  of  trumpeters  cheeks. ” 

2 Passed  July  5,  1771.  Mass.  Acts  and  Resolves , v.  167. 

3 On  July  4 the  House  of  Representatives  named  Hancock,  Ebenezer  Thayer, 
Jr.,  and  John  Remington  to  be  a committee,  together  with  such  as  the  Council 
should  nominate.  House  Journals , 1771,  106. 

4 Probably  William  Pepperell  Sparhawk,  who  took  the  name  of  William 
Peppered,  and  married  Elizabeth  Royall. 


i77i 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


12  5 


Common  it  draws  the  attention  of  most  people  who  all  agree 
in  its  being  one  of  the  pleasantest  situated  places  in  the 
Province. 

I have  applyed  to  Mrs.  Dawson  for  rent,  but  I have  really  no 
expectation  of  getting  any.  she  makes  a most  lamentable 
preachment  about  the  unreasonableness  of  paying  Rent  for  a 
place  so  much  out  of  Repair,  says  she  will  apply  to  the  Fence 
Viewers  to  have  the  Fences  madeupp.  as  to  that  I informed 
her  that  they  could  nor  would  not  do  any  thing  between  a land- 
lord and  tenant;  if  they  did  they  must  pay  for  it  themselves. 
She  further  said  that  she  prefers  reserving  the  Rent  and  paying 
it  to  yourself  when  you  come  home  and  that  she  don’t  like  so 
many  Landlords.  Have  you  received  the  y2  Guinea  from  Mr. 
Balch  for  the  dutch  picture.  I can  not  conclude  without  again 
requesting  that  you  would  write  often  and  largely.  Present 
my  most  tender  Regards  to  My  dear  Sister,  accept  the  same 
yourself  and  beleive  me  to  be  yours  most  Affectionately, 

H.  Pelham. 

P.S.  Bror.  and  Sister  Pelham  desires  their  kindest  Love  to 
yourself  and  Lady.  Complime[nts]  from  Mr  Pepperell  and 
Lady.  Miss  Peggy  McElvane.  Mr  Edward  Green  and  Lady 
say  thet  the  only  [way]  to  make  atonement  for  not  calling  there 
will  be  to  write  to  them.  When  you  write  to  me  send  the  lines 
Mr.  Joseph  Green  made  up  on  Mr  Checkleys  Picture.1  The 
Governor  has  informed  the  house  that  he  is  instructed  not  to 
sign  any  tax  bill  unless  the  salerys  of  all  crown  Officers  are  freed 
from  paying  Rates. 

P.S.  2d.  My  mamma  has  just  received  your  letter.  Mr.  Clarke 
and  Family  desire  their  kindest  love.  No  more  Room. 

1 They  are  printed  in  Slafter,  John  Checkley , i.  5. 


126 


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1771 


Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 

Boston,  July  11,  1771. 

Dear  Brother, 

By  Capn.  P.  Smith  you  will  I hope  receive  in  good  order  your 
Layman,  Crayons  and  Drawings  and  Major  Bayard’s  Picture. 
The  Crayons  and  gold  Button  holes  are  packed  in  the  same 
Box  with  the  Layman,  the  Drawings  and  Paper  underneath 
Major  Bayards  Picture.  My  Mamma  received  with  the 
greatest  Pleasure  your  Letter  of  23d  of  June  tho’  of  an  old  date, 
as  by  it  she  had  the  Satisfaction  of  knowing  that  you  and  my 
Sister  enjoyed  so  good  a Degree  of  Health.  She  desires  her 
kindest  Love  and  Blessing  to  you  and  my  Sister,  begs  that  you 
would  take  Care  of  yourselves  and  not  Lett  the  Gayeties  and 
Pleasures  of  New  York  (by  exposing  you  to  Colds)  have  any 
tendency  to  impair  the  pleasing  prospect  of  a confirmed  state 
of  Health.  We  are  all  pretty  well.  Mr.  Clarke’s  Family  are  all 
well.  Betzey  I have  not  heard  from  since  this  day  week,  she 
was  well  then.  The  Account  you  give  of  the  City,  of  your 
Buisness,  etc.  are  very  agreeable;  continue  those  Remarks. 
You  say  you  have  seen  two  of  Mr.  West’s  Portraits.  Let  me 
have  some  Account  of  them.  Your  Directions  with  respect  to 
the  Repairs  at  the  Common,  the  sale  of  the  House,  Papers  to 
Coll  Putnam  etc.  I shall  punctually  observe.  It  is  time  that 
I had  my  full  directions  with  Regard  to  your  Lawsuit,  as  the 
Court  will  sit  in  about  a Month,  and  it  may  require  some 
preveious  time  to  write  to  and  hear  from  Coll.  Putnam.  As  I 
have  received  no  Answer  to  my  Letter  sent  per  Post  of  June  23  d 
I am  entirely  at  a Loss  what  to  do  respecting  Mr  Otis’s  Fees. 
Sha’n’t  you  be  able  to  Procure  at  New  York  some  Lime  Trees 
for  continueing  the  walk  from  Mr  Hancock’s  ? 


l77l 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


127 


We  beg  that  at  a proper  Season  you  would  send  us  a Barrell 
of  Newton  Pippins  and  a Barrell  of  the  fine  New  York  Water- 
Mellons. 

I must  before  I conclude  remonstrate  against  your  not 
writeing.  your  last  Letter  was  dated  June  23d  1 8 Days  ago,  and 
how  long  it  may  yet  be  before  we  hear  I cannot  at  present  say. 
We  must  beg  you  would  let  us  hear  oftener.  Present  my  kind- 
est Love  and  Respects  to  my  Sister.  Miss  Peggy’s  Compli- 
ments. Inclosed  is  a Letter  from  Mr.  Edward  Green.  I must 
subscribe  myself  in  Haste  Your  most  Aff[e]ctionate  Brother 
and  Humble  Sert. 

Henry  Pelham. 


Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

New  York,  July  14,  1771. 

Dear  Brother, 

This  Eveng  I devote  with  pleasure  to  you  as  I know  it  must 
give  you  pleasure  to  be  inform’d  of  every  surcumstance  attend- 
ing our  situation  here  I will  give  you  a minute  detail  and  of 
the  maner  in  which  Sukey  and  myself  spend  our  time.  But  to 
begin  with  the  most  important.  Sukey  and  myself  are  very 
well;  she  is  imployed  in  working  on  muslin,  and  myself  in  the 
Labours  of  the  pencil.  We  commonly  rise  by  six  oClock  in  the 
morng,  breakfast  at  8,  go  to  our  respective  Labours  till  3,  when 
we  dine;  at  six  ride  out,  and  since  we  have  be[en]  here  I have 
by  no  accident  Lost  more  than  one  Day,  as  there  is  so  many 
that  are  impatient  to  sit  I am  never  at  a loss  to  fill  up  all  my 
time.  My  large  Chamber  is  about  9 feet  high  and  20  feet  long 
and  near  as  broad,  with  a good  room  ajoining  it,  the  ligh[t]  near 
north.  I have  begun  4 lengths  6-%  peaces  1 Kitcat.  When 


12  8 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1771 


we  came  here  Capt.  Richards’s  1 portrait  (at  Mr.  Sherb rooks2) 
[was]  so  much  admired  that  vast  numbers  went  to  see  it.  Mr. 
McEvers3  (from  whom  by  the  way  we  have  received  great 
civility)  spoke  to  Mr  Sherbrook  to  send  it  to  my  Chamber 
where  it  is  [as]  much  esteemed  [as]  I Could  wish.  As  I am  vis- 
ited by  vas[t]  numbers  of  People  of  the  first  Rank,  who  have 
seen  Europe  and  are  admirers  of  the  Art,  I was  glad  to  have 
- a Picture  so  well  finish’d.  Most  of  them  say  it  is  the  best 
Picture  they  ever  saw  and  all  agree  in  its  being  an  admirable 
Picture.  I saw  a miniature  the  other  Day  of  Governor  Martin  4 
by  Miers  which  cost  30  Guineas  and  I think  it  worth  the 
Money,  the  Gover’r  says  he  sat  at  least  50  times  for  it.  We 
have  not  found  the  wether  uncomfortably  hot;  a great  deal  of 
rain  has  injured  the  hay.  We  have  been  at  Long  Island.  It  is 
pleasant  tho  the  soil  [is]  not  very  good  naturaly.  the  ferry  is 
about  a mile  over.  Most  of  the  provisions  come  that  way,  but 
is  by  no  means  so  well  tended  as  Charles  Town  ferry,  tho  it  is 
six  times  as  dear.  We  have  been  at  Bloomingdale  twice  at  the 
widow  McEvers’s  (about  six  miles  out  of  this  City),  and  this 
week  are  to  go  to  Mr  Apthorp’s  that  is  about  a mile  farther.5  I 
beleive  you  will  think  we  take  a good  share  of  pleasure,  but  I 
find  I can  do  full  as  much  Business  as  in  Boston,  having  no 
interruptions  and  very  Long  forenoons,  and  punctually  at- 
tended. I received  your  Letters  of  24  of  June  and  7 of  July. 
Mr.  Joy  thinks  he  aught  not  to  give  the  five  Dollars  he  Offer’d 
when  I was  in  Boston,  but  he  did  not  consider  I beleive  that  it 

1 Charles  Lloyd  Richards  was  a captain  in  the  95th  Regiment. 

2 Miles  Sherbrook.  3 James  McEvers. 

4 Josiah  Martin  (1737-1786),  governor  of  North  Carolina  from  1 770  to  the  out- 
break of  the  War  of  Independence. 

6 Probably  Charles  Ward  Apthorp,  whose  house  stood  on  what  is  now  Ninth 
Avenue  near  Ninety-first  Street. 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


129 


1771 


would  cost  8 Dollars  to  carry  her  to  Boston;  besides  she  is  as 
good  as  she  was  than  and  well  worth  the  money.  But  I have 
met  with  a good  pasture  since  and  shall  keep  her  here  till  I 
return,  and  than  I shall  be  as  willing  to  part  with  the  Horse 
at  14T  sterling  as  with  the  Mare  at  55  Dollars.  They  boath 
exceed  my  expectation.  With  regard  to  Mr  Oatis  I think  it 
odd  he  should  be  in  such  hast  to  call  for  his  fees  considering 
the  uncertainty  of  his  helth  permiting  him  to  do  the  Business. 
I saw  Coll.  Putnam  and  he  dont  expect  any  fees  till  the  time  of 
tryal.  I think  you  had  better  ask  Mr  Clarkes  oppin[i]on  about 
it.  It  is  mine  that  you  had  better  assure  Mr.  Otis  he  shall  have 
his  fees  before  the  time  of  Tryal.  If  you  cannot  get  the  money 
you  will  write  to  me  and  I will  send  it  without  any  doubt,  for  I 
told  you  I would  do  so.  I think  the  Cause  had  better  be  tryed 
this  term  if  there  is  no  adjournment.  You  may  let  Mr  Otis 
know  I thought  there  would  be  an  adjournt.  and  expected  to  be 
in  Boston  before  that  time.  This  must  be  managed  with  some 
address  but  let  him  know  he  shall  certainly  have  his  fees  before 
tryall.  I would  have  you  attend  the  tryall  and  be  vigilent;  if 
you  can  do  no  otherwise  you  and  Sigorney  must  give  him  part, 
but  not  if  you  can  possably  avoid  it.  When  I was  in  Boston  he 
told  me  the  Coart  would  be  adjourned,  Putnam  and  Addams 
the  same,  and  there  has  been  no  meeting  of  the  Coart  since. 
I therefore  wonder  Mr  Otis  should  say  it  has  been  determined 
otherwise.  It  must  be  a fetch  to  get  the  money  and  nothing 
more.  Have  you  got  the  Money  from  Sigorney  for  sundrys? 
I should  be  glad,  if  I am  not  too  late,  you  would  put  in  the  Box 
a frame  and  Glass  and  paisted  paper  with  Major  Bayard’s 
portrait,  as  I have  one  to  do  here. 

I am  happy  to  find  you  are  all  well  by  yours  of  the  7th  instant. 
You  were  misinformed  relative  to  the  Trunk.  It  came  in  good 


i3° 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1771 


season.  I am  happy  in  hearing  of  the  Powder  house  Bill  pasing. 
Take  care  to  save  the  fence  and  get  Mr.  Hancock  to  put  some 
Locust  Trees  their.  If  he  will  not,  the  Selectmen  may,  as  it 
will  be  of  publick  utility.  I am  glad  you  have  sold  Lucy;  I wish 
you  could  sell  the  House.  You  say  you  were  advised  to  put  a 
hipt  Roof  on  the  uper  House,  but  you  did  not  say  who  advised  to 
it  that  could  be  depended  on.  I am  glad  people  like  the  situa- 
tion and  that  the  Repairs  go  on  briskly.  If  it  is  not  two  late  I 
should  like  to  Direct  how  to  make  the  Sashes  somthing  differ- 
ant  from  what  is  usual  with  you.  This  you  may  let  me  know 
next  Letter.  A pattern  of  Chinese  for  the  Top  of  the  house  I 
will  send  you,  as  I think  they  excell  in  that  way  here.  I hope 
Mr.  Joy  will  be  more  carefull  to  do  every  thing  in  the  best 
maner  than  if  I was  present,  that  I may  find  every  thing  to  my 
sattisfaction.  See  that  he  puts  studs  where  the  Doors  are  to  be, 
if  wings  should  be  built,  and  for  two  Windows  in  my  great 
Room.  Let  there  be  three  Windows  in  the  Side  of  the  Kitchen, 
beside  that  in  the  little  Entry.  Otherwise  it  will  be  Dark.  As 
to  Mrs.  Dawson  I think  she  imposes  on  me.  You  may  let  her 
know  the  Lease  is  not  of  my  giving,  and  if  she  does  not  like  to 
stay  and  pay  her  Rent,  she  may  move  out  of  it  directly,  for  I 
am  accountable  for  the  Rent  and  must  lose  it  if  she  dont  pay  it, 
and  I will  not  lay  out  one  farthing  more  farther,  nor  any  one 
else,  and  she  must  pay  the  money  to  you.  I think  there  aught 
to  be  two  Windows  in  the  west  side  of  the  Chamber  I shall 
paint  in.  It  will  tend  much  to  keep  it  cool  and  pleasant  when 
it  will  be  convenient  to  open  them,  and  I am  inclined  to  think 
it  would  be  best  to  put  the  Windows  in  the  Room  below  now. 
It  is  so  much  more  extended.  We  might  contrive  to  have  2 
Windows  north  of  the  Wing  and  a door  into  the  Wing,  if  the 
Wing  should  be  ever  added.  This  I think  must  be  attended  to. 


Copley  ■‘Pelham  Letters 


1771 


I31 


You  know  the  Wing  might  extend  lengthwise  from  the  house. 
This  would  certain  give  two  Windows  north  of  the  Wing  in  the 
Chamber  and  Lower  Room.  We  send  our  Affectionate  Duty 
to  our  hond  Mamma  Love  and  congratulation  to  Mr  [and] 
Mrs  Pelham  Compts.  to  Miss  Peggy  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Green  to 
Mr.  Boylston  Family  and  let  me  know  how  he  is.  I would  have 
the  Windows  put  in  the  north  side  of  my  Rooms  as  above,  for 
should  I not  add  Wings  I shall  add  a peazer  when  I return, 
which  is  much  practiced  here,  and  is  very  beautiful  and  con- 
venient, and  I think  it  as  well  to  shut  up  a Window  as  to  cut 
out  one.  Therefore  put  in  2,  but  for  the  Door  put  the  studs 
only.  You  must  think  weither  it  will  be  best  to  put  the  Door 
next  the  Chimney  or  in  the  Middle.  Your  Affectionate  Brother, 

J.  S.  Copley. 

Sukey  thinks  the  Kitchen  without  Windows  on  the  north 
will  be  very  hot;  I think  so  too.  Wish  the  Clossets  could  be 
contrived  better.  If  it  will  not  be  too  late  next  Letter  I write 
I will  send  you  my  thoughts  on  it. 

Henry  Pelham  to  James  Putnam 

Boston,  July  16,  1771. 

Sir, 

I transmitt  to  you,  by  Mr.  Copleys  Directions,  the  inclosed 
Papers,  viz.  Copy  of  Mr.  Pratts  Minutes  in  the  case  of  Banister 
vs  Cunningham;1  and  Copies  of  the  Depositions  of  Mr.  Lovell 
and  Mrs.  Church. 

1 Thomas  Banister  purchased  about  1709  the  eight  and  a half  acres  which 
Copley  owned,  known  as  Mt.  Pleasant.  In  1733  his  son,  Samuel,  mortgaged 
this  property  to  Nathaniel  Cunningham,  whose  son  of  the  same  name  inherited 
it.  There  is  no  record  of  its  sale  to  Copley,  but  two  of  the  Deed  Books  (Nos.  112 
and  1 1 4)  are  missing.  When  Copley  transferred  the  property  to  Otis  and  Mason 


132 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


1771 


My  Brother  has  desired  me  to  furnish  you  with  any  Papers, 
etc.  that  you  may  want  from  this  Place,  as  Occasion  requires. 
You  will  therefore  please  to  inform  me  (by  a line  per  Post)  of 
what  is  requisite,  and  it  shall  be  immediately  forwarded  to  you. 
I am  with  the  greatest  Respect,  Sir,  Your  most  obedient  and 
Plumble  Servt. 

Henry  Pelham. 

Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

New  York,  July  24,  1771. 

Dear  Brother, 

Sukey  and  myself  have  just  finished  a rich  repast  of  which  I 
wish  you  and  our  Mama  had  been  partakers ; it  was  on  a fine 
pine,  of  which  there  is  great  plenty  from  one  shilling  Lawfull 
Money  to  7 pence  a peace,  which  you  will  no  doubt  think  cheap 
anough.  When  you  wrote  me  some  time  ago  you  desired  I 
would  send  no  blank  paper;  you  may  depend  on  it  I shall  not 
send  my  Letter  in  a Cover,  because  the  postage  will  be  double 
if  I should.  But  you  must  not  expect  I should  sett  up  so  late  to 
night  as  to  fill  up  this  whole  paper,  for  We  propose  rising  so 
early  tomorrow  Morng.  as  to  take  a ride  before  Breakfast.  I 
have  received  your  Letter  by  Smith,  the  Layman,  etc.,  in  good 
order.  He  arrived  last  Sunday.  And  Your  Letter  by  the  Last 
post  by  which  I have  the  happyness  to  know  our  Mama  and 
all  our  other  friends  were  well.  I pray  Heaven  they  may  con- 
tinue so,  and  that  we  May  have  an  happy  meeting  in  the  fall. 

in  1796  the  title  was  subject  to  a claim  of  the  heirs  of  Nathaniel  Cunningham, 
and  this  claim  may  have  been  the  basis  of  the  lawsuit  mentioned  in  these  letters. 
The  tract  was  thus  described  in  1733:  “A  tract  of  land  with  a dwelling  house 
thereon  on  the  N.  W.  side  of  the  Training  Field,  containing  8X  acres  with  the 
flatts,  bounded  S.  or  S.  E.  on  the  Common  or  Training  Field,  W’ly  on  Charles 
river  or  a cove,  and  in  part  on  John  Leverett  and  Mr.  James  Allen,  on  whom  it 
also  abutts  N.  E.  ly.  E.  on  Sam’l.  Sewall.” 


i77i 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


1 33 


I have  by  that  memorable  Epistle  the  happyness  to  know 
Likewise  that  you  have  a good  talent  at  scolding  which  you 
have  well  improved,  and  wraught  up  in  that  Letter,  you  say 
you  have  not  had  a line  for  3 Weeks;  but  you  may  remember 
Sukey  wrote  to  her  Brother  in  that  time,  by  which  you  might 
have  been  informed  we  were  well.  You  was  at  a loss  likewise 
what  to  do  with  Mr.  Otis,  now  that  was  a sad  affair,  and  Mr. 
Otis  could  not  be  so  unreasonable  as  not  to  think  your  not 
hearing  from  me  a sufficient  apology.  Could  any  thing  have 
turned  out  better  or  furnish’d  you  with  more  powerfull  means 
of  suspending  the  giving  him  his  fees?  If  I had  done  it  on  pur- 
pose I should  have  thought  myself  wise  therein. 

When  I saw  Mr.  Putnam  he  informed  me  should  be  glad  to 
know  assuredly  of  Mr.  Goffs  purchaseing  Land  and  taking  a 
quit  claim  from  Banister,  and  I think  nothing  so  forceable  on 
all  such  occations  as  full  proof  of  the  fact.  This  do  then.  Get 
Mr.  Green,  or  who  else  you  shall  think  proper  if  you  cannot  do 
it  yourself,  in  a way  as  private  as  may  be  best  to  examinfe]  the 
Records  at  Cambridge.  There  you  will  find  who  he  has  pur- 
chased of  or  taken  quit  Claims  from.  Mr.  Shurbourn  who 
writes  for  Mr.  Goldthwaite  would  do  it  for  Mr  Sigomey  and  me. 
I think  him  the  best  person  because  he  understands  the  nature 
of  those  things  so  as  to  do  it  with  more  ease  and  certainty. 
You  must  mind  weither  the  name  was  Goff  or  Trowbridge,  or 
you  may  be  puz’led.  I cannot  send  you  the  lines  on  Checkley 
this  time.  I have  [not]  received  the  y2  Guinea,  nor  have  I been 
able  to  contrive  the  Clossetts  yet.  The  Pencill  goes  on  very 
briskley  and  I have  no  time.  Mr  Green’s  letter  shall  have  an  an- 
swer. Sukey  and  myself  are  well,  we  desire  our  Love  to  all  our 
friends  Duty  to  Mama  and  Mr.  Clarke.  YourEffect’te  Brother, 

J.  S.  Copley. 


134 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1771 


Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 

Boston,  July  28,  1771. 

My  dear  Brother, 

Could  you  conceive  the  Pleasure  I take  in  receiving  a Let- 
ter from  you,  you  would  (I  doubt  not)  write  much  oftener. 
Your  very  acceptable  favour  of  the  14th.  Inst,  is  now  be- 
fore me.  by  it  we  receive  with  infinite  Pleasure,  the  agreable 
Account  of  your  and  my  dear  Sisters  being  very  well.  We 
reflect  with  great  Satisfaction  upon  our  hopes  being  happily 
accomplished,  bee  assured  you  are  ever  attended  by  our  best 
Wishes  for  your  Health  and  Happiness.  The  Account  you 
give  of  your  Buisness  as  well  as  Recreations  are  very  satis- 
factory. You  say  you  saw  a Miniature  Picture  of  Governor 
Martin  by  Meirs.  I wish  you  had  given  me  a more  perticular 
Discription  of  it  as  well  as  of  Mr  West’s  Pictures  that  you 
mentioned  in  a former  Letter,  let  me  know  something  about 
them.  Mr  Otis  I have  not  yet  seen  but  I shall  in  a day  or 
two.  The  Box  with  Major  Bayard’s  Picture  I hope  before  this 
is  safe  in  your  Possession,  so  that  it  is  difficult  for  me  to  put 
a Frame  and  Glass  into  it.  Your  Friends  that  advised  to  a 
hiped  [roof]  were  our  Hon’d  Mamma  Mr  Clarke,  your  two 
Brothers,  Messrs.  Jack  and  Isaac  Clarke,  etc.,  etc.  Some  of  the 
Sashes  are  made.  I have  stoped  those  that  are  not  ’till  I can 
receive  Directions  which  must  be  as  soon  as  convenient.  I 
dont  comprehend  what  you  mean  by  a Peazer.1  explain  that 
in  your  next.  Don’t  forgett  to  send  the  Pattern  of  the  Chinese. 
I spent  Commencement  Day  at  Cambridge,  while  I was  there 
I mett  Coll  Putnam  at  Mr.  Murray’s2  Chamber.  I hapned 

‘ 1 On  the  transformation  in  meaning  of  this  word  see  Albert  Matthews  in 
the  Natioriy  lxviii.  416. 

2 Samuel  Murray,  of  the  Class  of  1772. 


I771 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


l35 


luckely  to  have  the  Coppies  of  the  Papers  with  me,  which  I 
delivered  him,  he  gave  me  the  same  Account  he  gave  you, 
about  the  adjournment.  I want  your  full  and  Perticular  Di- 
rections for  the  law  suit  as  to  the  largeness  of  the  Fees,  the  Per- 
sons to  whom  and  the  time  when  they  are  to  be  given.  What 
is  to  be  done  with  Messrs.  Payne1  and  the  two  Quinceys?2 
but  of  this  you  must  let  me  know  soon.  Thus  much  for 
Buisness.  My  Mamma  is  tolerable  well  for  her,  she  sends  her 
kindest  Love  and  best  Wishes  to  yourself,  and  my  Sister  with 
her  intreaty’s  that  you  would  take  the  utmost  Care  of  your- 
selves. I heard  yesterday  from  my  Cousin  Betzey.  (by  the 
way  I am  very  much  affronted  that  you  made  no  Inquiries  after 
my  dear  little  Neice.  I suppose  you  have  forgot  her,  therefore 
I don’t  address  the  Paragraph  to  you  but  to  my  Sister,  to  whom 
I beg  my  kindest  Love  and  Respects  may  be  acceptable),  she 
is  very  hearty  and  well,  has  got  two  teeth  and  cuts  them  very 
easy,  she  is  a very  good  Girl  and  is  excellently  tended.  I see 
her  frequently.  We  have  had  a most  Remarkably  fine  Summer, 
hay  is  very  plenty  and  Cheap.  — Mr  Otis’s  Action  against 
Commis’r  Robinson3  for  an  Assault  come  on  at  the  Inferior 
Court  last  Thursday  Mom’g.  The  Tryal  lasted  ’till  Saterday 
Morn’g,  when  the  Jury  bro’t  in  a verdict  in  Mr  Otis’s  favour 
with  200o£  St.  Damages.  Pray  write  often.  I am  with  Regard 
yor  Loving  Bror. 

Henry  Pelham. 

1st.  P S Mr  Clarke  and  Family  are  all  well.  Compliments 
I am  desired  to  present  from  Mr.  Green  and  Lady  Miss  P. 
McElvane  etc.,  etc.,  etc.,  etc.  I have  neither  time,  Room  nor 
Inclination  to  write  about  500  Names. 

1 Robert  Treat  Paine  (1731-1814). 

8 John  Robinson.  See  2 Proceedings , x.  72. 


2 Samuel  and  Josiah. 


136 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1771 


2d.  P.  S.  Mr  Boylston1  is  very  ill  his  Friends  have  little  or 
no  hopes  of  his  Recovery.  Mr.  Pelham  I have  not  seen  this  ten 
days.  They  were  well  then  except  Peter  who  has  been  like  to 
die.  he  is  now  better. 

Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

New  York,  Augst.  3d,  1771. 

Dear  Brother  Harry, 

I received  your  favour  by  the  Post  and  am  happy  in  hearing 
you  and  our  Hon’d  Mamma  are  well.  The  same  information 
I now  give  you  of  Sukey  and  myself,  we  desire  our  Most 
Efectionate  Love  and  Duty  to  her  and  Love  to  all  our  other 
friends,  in  perticular  to  yourself,  my  time  is  so  much  engrossd 
by  Business  that  all  I can  spare  is  little  anough  for  recreation 
so  that  you  must  excuse  all  the  enaccurys  in  my  Letters.  I have 
began  Painting  to  the  amount  of  3 hundred  pounds  Sterg. 
shall  take  four  more  and  than  Stop.  We  experiance  such  a 
Dispostion  in  a great  many  People  to  render  us  happy  as  we  did 
not  expect,  but  I must  go  to  Business  as  it  grows  late.  You  say 
you  dont  know  what  I mean  by  a Peaza.  I will  tell  you  than, 
it  is  exactly  such  a thing  as  the  cover  over  the  pump  in  your 
Yard,  suppose  no  enclosure  for  Poultry  their,  and  3 or  4 Posts 
aded  to  support  the  front  of  the  Roof,  a good  floor  at  bottum, 
and  from  post  to  post  a Chinese  enclosure  of  about  three  feet 
high,  these  posts  are  Scantlings  of  6 by  4 inches  Diameter, 
the.  Broad  side  to  the  front,  with  only  a little  moulding  round 
the  top  in  a plain  neat  maner.  some  have  Collums  but  very 
few,  and  the  top  is  generally  Plasterd;  but  I think  if  the  top 
was  sealed  with  neat  plained  Boards  I should  like  it  as  well. 

1 Nicholas  Boylston  (1716-1771).  See  Quincy,  History  of  Harvard  University t 
11.  214. 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


I37 


I77I 


these  Peazas  are  so  cool  in  Sumer  and  in  Winter  break  off  the 
storms  so  much  that  I think  I should  not  be  able  to  like  an 
house  without.  I hope  you  will  find  it  not  much  addition  to  the 
Expence  to  add  them  as  I have  drawn  them  in  the  Plan,  you 
will  see  I have  not  drawn  accurately,  the  Distanceing  of  the 
Post,  Windows,  etc.,  I have  left  to  you.  you  can  make  them 
tourn  out  right.  You  see  I have  Drawn  the  Chinea  Clossit 
Store  Room  in  the  east  piaza,  which  containing  things  the  Cold 
cannot  injure,  will  be  better  there  than  in  the  Kichen,  and  I 
suppose  not  more  expencive;  and  the  Pantry  I have  left  in  the 
Kichen  a[s]  proposed  when  I was  in  Boston,  Because  I can  find 
no  other  place  for  it,  unless  it  was  put  where  the  Store  Room  is 
now,  and  the  store  room  put  out  side  of  that,  and  the  China 
Clossit  as  I have  dotted  in  the  Plan,  the  shape  will  be  long  but 
convenient  anough  and  this  will  make  the  Pantry  warm  anough; 
But  you  must  consult  Joy  in  this.  If  the  Piazas  are  added  I 
should  lik  to  have  one  window  in  the  best  Parlour,  and  a Door 
the  top  of  which  shall  answer  to  the  Window;  but  when  you 
shove  it  up  so  high  as  to  Clear  the  head  (which  it  may  be  by 
opening  a way  through  the  plate  above  it)  the  part  emidately 
under  it  shall  open  like  the  Lower  half  of  a Shop  Door,  if  you 
can  contrive  better,  do.  the  East  Peaza  need  not  be  sealled  at 
all,  but  left  rough,  the  foundations  is  not  continued  but  only 
Coins  at  proper  distances.  I should  have  the  Roof  to  pitch 
from  under  the  Arkitraves  of  the  Chamber  Windows  hiptevery 
way  and  as  flat  as  possable.  I cannot  send  you  the  Chinese 
pattern  yet.  see  what  Mr.  Joy  will  expect  for  this  addition  of 
Peazas,  and  let  [him]  know  I think  it  cannot  be  much,  because] 
I would  have  them  done  at  once,  if  they  wont  be  Expencive. 
you  need  not  tell  him  so;  but  if  £200  Old  Tenr1  would  do  it  you 

1 A trifle  over  £26  sterling.  See  p.  147  for  Mr.  Joy’s  estimate. 


138 


Copley-Pelham  Letters  1771 

migh[t]  conclude  upon  it  without  my  orders.  The  floor  of  the 
Peazas  except  that  next  the  Kitchen  should  be  Pitch  Pine.  As 
to  [the]  Lawsuit,  I must  give  Putnam  10  Guineas  and  Otis  the 
same;  But  if  there  will  be  an  adjournment  dont  Guive  to  Otis, 
tell  him  I shall  be  at  home  before  that  time,  dont  be  too  Liberal 
with  the  Lawyers ; they  will  not  do  the  work  one  bit  the  better, 
as  to  Pain  Consult  Mr.  Goldthwait.  if  they  are  not  sattisfied 
Let  them  know  You  are  sure  your  Brother  will  do  what  is 
handsom  by  them  when  he  returns.  I know  you  are  apt  to  be 
Liberal,  but  remember  money  once  gone  never  returns.  Re- 
member Sigorney  is  to  be  half.  Send  by  the  first  oppertunity 
from  Boston  2 half  Length  Gold  frames  and  2 Cloath  frames 
likewise  Gould.  I am  with  Great  Effection  Your  Brother, 

J.  S.  Copley. 


Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 

Boston,  August  15,  1771. 

Dear  Brother, 

The  near  approach  of  the  Courts  sitting,  makes  me  solici- 
touse  about  your  Law  suit.  The  last  Evening,  I receiv’d  two 
Letters  from  Coll.  Putnam,  in  one  of  which  he  says: 

The  superior  Court  sets  at  Boston  the  last  Tuesday  of  this 
Month;  I can’t  attend  on  Mr.  Copley’s  Cause  that  Week,  if  I 
could,  it  is  very  uncertain  whether  the  Court  will  sit,  to  do  Buis- 
ness  at  that  time:  you  had  better  therefore  get  the  Cause  put  off 
till  the  Adjourment  in  the  Fall:  When  I hope  to  be  better  able  to 
attend  the  Cause  than  at  present.  In  the  meantime  I shall  take 
all  due  Care  as  far  as  my  health  will  permitt.  PS.  If  the  Cause 
must  come  on  the  first  Week  of  the  Courts  setting,  and  can’t  be 
delayed  let  me  know,  and  I will  endeavour  to  attend. 


I77I 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


*39 


Now  what  I want,  is  your  most  perticular  and  express  Or- 
ders, Whether  your  Cause  shall  be  tryed  at  the  first  setting  of 
the  Court,  or  whether  it  shall  be  put  off  till  the  adjournment  [in 
which  Case  it]  can’t  be  sooner  than  the  middle  of  November. 
On  the  one  hand,  you  will  consider  the  state  of  your  Lawyer’s 
Health;  Collo.  Putnam  you  know,  is  an  invalid,  and  his  health 
is  so  very  precarious,  as  to  render  his  travelling,  in  such  a sea- 
son, very  difficult;  often  impossable.  Mr  Otis,  you  are  likewise 
sensable,  has  no  certainty  of  his  Health;  he  is  now  very  well, 
but  how  long  that  may  continue,  is  very  uncertain;  these  Con- 
siderations, Operate  in  favour  of  its  coming  on,  as  soon  as 
possable.  On  the  other  hand,  if  it  is  put  off  ’till  the  adjourn- 
ment, you  will  be  able  to  attend  the  Tryall  yourself.  You  will 
likewise  consider,  that  if  the  tryal  is  put  off  till  November,  and 
anything  should  prevent  its  being  then  tryed,  it  must  go  to  the 
spring  term,  when  it  is  very  bad  travelling.  It  has  been  put  off, 
upon  your  motion,  sundry  times  already,  which  should  make 
you  cautious  of  putting  it  off,  when  you  can  bring  your  Lawyers 
together  with  such  favourable  Circumstances;  and  the  oftener 
you  put  it  off,  the  more  difficult  you  may  find  it,  when  you  have 
greater  Occasion  for  it.  I have  just  seen  Mr.  Otis,  he  says,  he  is 
entirely  ready  for  speeking.  I shall  endeavour  to  have  the 
action,  so  ranged  as  either  to  have  it  tryed  now,  or  in  Novem- 
ber. I imagin  you  wont  need  soliciting  for  an  immediate  answer 
to  this  Letter,  when  you  consider,  that  if  you  write  by  the 
return  of  the  same  post  that  Carries  this,  it  will  be  two  or  three 
days  after  the  Court  opens,  before  I can  receive  your  Letter.  I 
must  therefore  intreat,  that  you  will  not  neglect  letting  me  have 
an  immediate  answer.  I am  just  going  to  write  to  Coll.  Putnam, 
so  have  only  time  to  subscribe  myself,  your  loving  Brother, 

Henry  Pelham. 


140  Copley -Pelham  Letters  1771 

P.  S.  We  are  all  well,  accept  of  Love,  from  our  Mamma,  Mr. 
Clarke  and  Family,  Mr.  Startin1  and  Lady,  myself,  etc.  The 
same,  to  my  Sister. 

Invoice  of  Merchandise 

Invoice  of  Merchze  shipped  by  Henry  and  Thos.  Bromfield  in  the  Thames 
Capt.  Jno.  Derby;  on  Acco.  of  Mr.  Jno.  Singleton  Copley;  consigned  to  Mr. 


Henry  Pelham  at  Boston. 

No.  I a Case  qt. 

No.  ( 

6 fine  half  length  Cloths . . , 

..  4/  ... 

•I  • 4- 

1.. 

6.  d?  Kit-Cats 

..  2/  ... 

1 

6 . . d?  Three  Quarters 

..  1/6... 

9 

2..  1 

6 . . d?  fine  ticking  half  Lengths  4/  . . . 

...1..  4 

i 

6.  .d?  three  Quarters 

..  1/6... 

9 

The  Case  . — 

2 a Box  qt. 

12  fine  Tools 3.  8 

5 Brushes 3.  8 


3 oz.  Italian  Black  Chalk 

2/  .... 

..  ..  6 

3 oz.  do  White 

1/  .... 

..  ..  3 

2 oz.  fine  Vermillion 

lb  oz 

2/  .... 

..  ..  4 

1 . . 2 fine  white  Poppy  Oil . 

..  ..  s 

50  lb  Putty 

. 4d 

,.  ..16  8 

Bladders,  Bottle  & Box 

3 Case 


185  Squares  best  Newcastle 
Crown  Glass  by  10^ 

Box  etc 


2 X 

"A) 


feet  Ins 
195..  3.  9d 


6 6 

56  7 12 


4 A Keg 

Wt.  Ct.  2..0..19 
Tare  ..  ..12 

Nett  2.  .0. . 7 Grod.  white  Lead.  35/ 3 12  2 

Kegg 2 6 3 *4  8 


1 Charles  Startin,  who  married  Sarah,  a sister  of  Mrs.  Copley. 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1771 


141 


Charges 

Entry  & Shipping 5 6 

Primage  & Bills  Lading 3 3 8 9 

Commission  on  £17  19  5 @ iy2  p Ct 9 

Errors  Excepted.  ( £1885 

London  17th  August  1771. 


Heny  & Thos  Bromfield. 

Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

New  York,  August  17,  1771. 

Dear  Brother, 

Mrs.  Copley  and  myself  have  this  Even’g  returned  from  Mrs. 
McEvers’s  at  Blooming  Dale  where  we  have  been  two  Days.  I 
have  been  taking  her  portrait  there,  and  finding  Smith  sails 
tomorrow  morning  I sit  up  late  to  write  a line  to  you  to  let  you 
and  our  Hond.  Mamma  know  we  are  well,  and  have  been  so 
ever  since  we  left  Boston,  which  is  a great  blessing.  I have 
wrote  to  Brother  Jona’n 1 at  large  and  it  is  now  late,  so  must  be 
very  short  for  we  keep  good  hours.  I have  not  been  able  to  send 
you  the  Chineese  yet,  for  I hardly  get  time  to  eat  my  Victuals; 
but  I will  send  it  soon.  I forget  weither  or  not  there  was  to  be  a 
Clossit  in  the  Keeping  Room,  if  the  Clossits  are  made  in  the 
Peaza  as  proposed  in  my  last  Letter  so  as  to  be  contiguous  to  the 
Keeping  Room,  I would  by  no  means  have  any  by  the  Chimney. 
I am  likewise  determined  to  have  no  door  into  the  Kitchen 
from  the  Keeping  Room.  I dined  at  Mr.  Yates’s  3 Days  ago, 
where  I noticed  two  such  spaces  with  side  boards  in  them 
which  were  very  convenient,  the  Arches  were  somthing  in  this 
maner.  I should  like  to  have  them  left  open  the  same  Depth 
they  are  now,  or  if  there  should  be  the  Clossit  in  the  Peaza,  and 

1 Jonathan  Clarke. 


142 


Copley -Pelham  Letters  1771 

those  Spaces  will  receive  a side  board  in  one  and  a Table  in  the 
other,  which  will  be  very  convenient. 

If  Mr.  Joy  would  as  leaves  wainscott  the  Lower  part  of  the 
Painting  Room  as  plaister,  which  I should  think  would  be  as 
Cheep,  I should  prefer  it.  I dont  remember  weither  I did  not 
put  an  odd  number  of  Posts  to  the  Sketch  of  the  Peaza  I sent 
you;  if  I did,  it  was  rong  and  I suppose  that  you  would  correct 
it.  the  Number  should  be  even,  so  as  to  have  steps  from  the 
Middle  which  would  lead  into  Fennows  Pasture,  steps  of  about 
seven  or  eight  foot  Long  somthing  in  this  manner  1 I must  have 
Windows  from  my  great  Painting  Room  into  it.  those  Windows 
having  new  fassioned  Blinds  such  as  you  see  in  Mr.  Clarke’s 
Keeping  Room  Will  keep  the  Ligh[t]  out  from  that  side,  and 
allways  occation  a Draught  of  Air.  Mind  I dont  mean  to  tie 
you  up  in  any  thing;  you  must  contrive  the  place  for  Windows, 
Doors,  etc.  yourself.  I dont  know  but  it  would  be  better  to 
have  the  Steps  at  the  End  of  the  Peaza  than  at  the  side,  as  the 
Door  from  the  best  Room  cannot  be  opposite  to  those  Steps: 
in  which  Case  their  might  be  the  odd  number  of  Posts  in  this 
manner,  indeed  I think  this  would  be  best,  however  only  let 
me  know  the  expence,  if  it  is  not  much,  as  I think  it  cannot  be, 
I would  have  the  Door  and  Windows  orderd  Accordingly,  and 
the  Peaza  might  be  built  after  I return  to  Boston. 

I am  with  Effectionate  Duty  to  our  Hon’d  Mamma  Love 
to  yourself  in  which  Sukey  Joins  me  Your  Effectionate 
Brother, 

John  S.  Copley. 

You  have  never  said  anything  of  Snap.  I hope  he  is  well  and 
a good  Boy.  if  he  continues  to  do  well  he  will  merrit  my  Care 

1 A small  rough  sketch,  not  reproduced. 


1771 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


I43 


and  tenderness  for  him  and  I shall  reward  him  According  on  my 
return.  I am  obliged  to  write  in  a very  Slovenly  Manner  for 
want  of  time,  which  I hope  will  [be]  deem’d  a sufficient  excuse. 


Shrimpton  Hutchinson  to  Copley 

Boston,  24th  August,  1771. 

Sir, 

I take  the  first  Opportunity  of  sending  you  a Letter  from  the 
ingenious  Mr.  West,1  which  came  inclosed  in  one  to  me  from 
that  Gentleman  for  my  Instruction  in  bringing  forward  my 
Son  in  the  Art  of  Painting,  and  on  the  other  side  I give  you  a 
Copy  of  it  for  your  Perusal,  in  hopes  that  you  will  likewise 
favour  me  with  your  Sentiments  on  the  Subject,  and  let  me 
know  if  any  Compensation  can  be  made  to  you  by  me  or  by  his 
Services  to  entitle  him  to  your  Instruction  in  the  Knowledge  of 
Colours,  which  will  determine  in  my  Mind  the  Time  of  sending 
him  home  to  England,  as  I find  by  Mr.  Temple’s  Letter  Mr. 
West  will  be  very  friendly  to  him  on  all  Occasions.  It  gives  me 
pleasure  to  hear  by  Capt.  Smith  and  many  Gentlemen  from  the 
Southward  that  you  are  in  Health,  and  command  as  much  Em- 
ployment as  you  think  proper  to  undertake,  and  wishing  you 
and  your  Lady  a safe  .Return  to  your  native  Town,  I conclude 
with  due  Regard  for  you  and  Esteem  for  your  Merit.  Your 
humble  Servant 

Shrimpton  Hutchinson. 

P S I am  sensible  Genius,  Industry,  and  long  Practice  must 
be  united  in  the  Painter  to  make  him  eminent  and  am  therefore 
anxious  my  Son  should  improve  his  Hours  usefully,  and  Time 

1 See  page  118,  supra . 


i44 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


1771 


will  determine  whether  he  has  Genius.  Taste  may  be  acquired 
by  his  future  Travels,  which  I hope  he  will  have  the  Advantage 
of,  and  am  encouraged  in  it  by  the  Offers  of  my  Friends. 


Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

New  York,  25  Augst.,  1771. 

Dear  Brother  Harry 

When  you  wrote  me  last  so  pressingly  for  an  Answer  you 
should  have  consider’d  I might  have  been  out  of  Town;  there- 
fore you  should  not  have  delay’d  writeing  so  long  that  an  acci- 
dent of  that  sort  should  possably  take  place,  now  this  was  the 
very  accident  that  prevented  my  writeing  an  Imediate  answer. 
I slept  out  of  Town  the  night  before  and  it  is  the  custom  to 
send  the  letters  to  their  respectiv[e]  proprieters,  and  it  was  not 
brought  me  till  after  the  Post  had  been  gone  an  hour.  I was 
very  much  mortified  and  shall  be  doubly  so  if  you  have  not  been 
active  in  bringing  on  the  Action,  for  it  is  my  judgment  to  have 
it  come  on  by  all  means,  and  in  order  to  make  amends  as  much 
as  possable  for  this  delay  I have  wrote  to  Coll.  Putnam  by  this 
Post  informing  him  that  I send  you  my  peremtory  orders  to 
have  the  Cause  try’d  if  possable,  so  that  he  will  hold  himself  in 
readyness  or  go  down  to  Boston  at  the  time  to  which  the  Cause 
stands  assigned,  according  to  what  has  past  between  you.  how- 
ever write  him,  if  their  is  time  for  him  to  receive  your  Letter, 
and  go  down  to  Boston  before  the  time  to  which  you  ranged 
the  Cause  for.  I would  not  for  any  consideration  whatever 
you  should  not  procure  a Tryal  this  time,  and  cannot  but  be 
surprised  you  should  be  so  timid  as  to  weit  one  moment  for  my 
orders.  Act  for  me  as  if  for  your  self,  and  you  will  do  wright. 
the  letter  to  Coll  Putnam  has  taken  me  up  so  much  of  the 


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I77I 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


*45 


Even’g  that  I can  only  send  you  this  scrip,  for  I must  rise  earley. 
Sukey  and  myself  are  very  well  desire  our  Duty  to  our  Dear 
Mama,  Love  to  you  and  all  our  Brothers  and  sisters,  comp’ts 
to  all  Friends.  I am,  Dear  Harry,  your  Effectionate  Brother, 

J.  S.  Copley. 

Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 1 

Boston,  Augst.  25,  1771. 

Dear  Brother, 

I hope  you  have  too  great  an  Opinion  of  our  Affection  and 
Regard,  to  think  it  necessary,  that  I should  describe  the  Pleas- 
ure we  enjoyed  upon  the  Receipt  of  your  severall  Favours  of  the 
24th  of  July,  3d.  and  17.  of  August.  Your  own  feelings  upon 
some  simular  Occasion,  can  give  you  a better  Idea  of  our  Satis- 
faction, than  my  Pen  — a Satisfaction,  heightened  into  Happy- 
ness,  by  hearing  that  you  and  my  dear  Sister,  were  well.  In 
return  for  such  agreable  News,  I can  inform  you,  that  our 
hond.  Mamma  enjoys,  as  she  has  done  for  some  time,  a pretty 
tolerable  degree  of  health,  for  her.  I have  been  very  well  scince 
you  left  Boston. 

As  this  goes  by  Mr.  Startin,  I shall  be  as  perticular,  in  An- 
swering your  three  last  Letters  and  in  letting  you  know  the 
situation  of  things  here  a[s]  his  sudden  departure  will  permitt. 

We  thank  you  for  your  kind  Wishes,  with  regard  to  the  Pine 
Apples,  are  very  Glad  you  have  had  such  plenty,  of  so  delicat[e] 
a Fruit,  but  if  we  may  judge  from  the  Price,  we  have  had 
greater  plenty  here  than  you  have  had  at  New  York,  with  you, 
they  were  from  a shilling  to  sevenpence,  here  from  a Shilling  to 
two  pence,  and  excellent  Fruit  too. 

1 There  are  two  drafts  of  this  letter.  The  first  bears  the  date  July  4,  1 771, 
which  has  been  changed  to  August,  1771. 


146 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1771 


You  tell  me,  You  must  not  expect  I should  sett  up  so  late  to 
night  as  to  fill  up  this  Paper . That  is  very  clever  indeed!  not 
write  for  better  than  three  Weeks,  and  than  tell  me  I must  not 
expect  etc.,  etc.  Yes,  dear  Sir,  I will  expect  severall Things:  that 
you  won’t  sett  up  late,  that  you  will  write  often,  that  you  will 
send  no  blank  Paper  (I  repeat  it  for  all  your  sneer  about  a 
Letter’s  being  couvered),  but  above  all,  I expect  that  you  will 
take  the  utmost  Care  of  your  Health,  a Man  and  his  Wife  being 
one,  I think  it  needless,  to  Say  that  in  this  last  and  most  import- 
ant Expectation,  my  Dear  Sister  is  included.  You  have  receved 
your  Layman  etc.  I am  glad  of  it.  I think  my  self  very  happy 
in  possessing  a talent,  which,  is  so  very  neacessary  and  usefull, 
and  which  produced  your  fav’r  of  July  24.  I hope  you  will 
render  it  unneacessary  for  me  to  excersise  that  talant  again. 

Agreable  to  your  directions,  I have  got  Mr.  Sherbourn  to 
examine  the  Records  at  Cambridge,  for  a Quitclaim  to  Mr. 
Goff,  But  he  can  find  no  such  Instrument  upon  Record,  there 
is  a quitclaim  from  Mr  Jno.  Banister,  to  Mr.  Inman  of  a 
peeice  of  Land,  for  the  sum  of  five  shillings. 

The  Window  Sashes  are  made  much  as  you  would  have 
them,  narrow  but  very  deep.  I have  observed  the  Windows  of 
several  Houses,  lately  painted,  in  a manner  that  I greatly  like, 
and  which  makes  the  Glass  look  much  Larger,  and  the  Bars 
appear  very  slender,  it  is  by  painting  the  putty,  with  a dark 
Colour,  nearly  approaching  to  Black.  The  Glass  you  propose 
over  the  Door,  would  be  very  convenient,  but  I think  the 
Venetian  Door  would  be  much  Handsomer  and  Pleasanter. 
Paper  Mashe  Gilt,  Mr  Gore1  makes  for  thirty  shillings  O.  T. 
per  Yd.;  if  it  is  white,  half  that  price;  but  the  Goodness  ought 
to  be  regarded.  I wish  you  could  send  a small  peice  from  New 

1 John  Gore,  of  Boston,  painter  and  merchant. 


i77i 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


J47 


York  to  Compare.  I thank  you  for  the  lines  on  Checkley’s 
Picture.  The  Peaza’s  which  you  describe,  appear  to  me,  to  be 
very  convenient,  as  well  as  pleasant.  Capt.  Joy  has  given  me  an 
Estimate  of  the  expence,  it  turns  out  more  than  you  expected, 
£63  L.  M.  he  says  is  the  lowest  he  could  afford  to  undertake 
to  do  it  for.  The  stuff  comes  to  near  4o£.  The  gold  frames  shall 
be  forwarded  as  soon  as  possable.  The  Arches  at  the  sides  of 
the  Chimnie  in  the  Sitting  Room,  I like,  but  there  is  no  deter- 
mining about  the  Closetts,  without  knowing  weither  the  Peazas 
are  to  be  built  or  not.  I will  speak  to  Capt.  Joy  about  the 
wainscot  in  the  Painting  Room.  You  putt  an  odd  number  of 
posts,  in  the  Peaza,  which  was  right,  as  there  is  four  Windows, 
which  makes  five  Peers.  I think  upon  the  whole  it  would  be 
best  to  have  the  steps  at  the  front  End. 

In  answer  to  your  inquiries  after  Snap,  I take  a pleasure  in 
informing  you ; that  he  has  been  well,  except  one  fit,  which  he 
had  since  you  was  away,  but  it  was  so  much  less  violent,  than 
any  of  his  former  ones,  that  we  are  in  great  hopes  that  they  will 
entirely  leave  him.  Each  fit  has  been  essentially  less  Violent 
than  the  preceeding  one,  he  has  behaved  himself  very  well  and 
is  a cleaver  Fellow.  Since  I began  to  write  this  Letter,  he  came 
up,  asked  me  if  I was  writeing  to  New  York,  and  beged  that  I 
would  give  his  Duty  to  his  Master  and  Mistress,  and  tell  them 
that  he  was  very  glad  to  hear  that  they  were  well.  Antony  is 
well.1  Having  thus  exibited  Snap  and  Antony  to  View,  I begin 
to  think  it  is  time  to  produce  myself.  I have  but  Just  returned 
from  Newton,  where  I have  been  exerciseing  the  Pencill.  In  my 
way  I called  up  at  Jamaica,  and  saw  my  Cousin  Betzey,  she  is 
in  charming  Health,  looks  as  fatt  and  hearty  as  you  could 
Wish,  she  cutts  her  teeth  very  easy.  My  Brother  Pelham  and 

1 A dog. 


148 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


I77I 


Family  are  well,  desire  their  kindest  Love  and  Regards  may  be 
presented  to  you,  and  my  Sister.  Little  Peter  has  been  exceed- 
ingly ill,  but  has  recovered  again,  and  is  now  in  a fine  promiseing 
way.  I have  now  upwards  of  5oo£  worth  of  Buisness  in  Hand. 
I have  been  trying  to  etch  a little  thing,  an  Impression  I 
Inclose. 

Agreable  to  your  desire,  I inclose  a Plan  of  the  House.  The 
Entrance  into  the  great  Room,  and  the  Room  over  it,  were 
objects  of  great  Moment,  and  what  has  cost  Capt.  Joy  and 
my  self  much  Study  and  attention.  The  principle  Object,  we 
had  in  View,  was  to  mak[e]  the  passages  not  only  convenient, 
but  answ[e]rable  in  Looks,  to  the  noble  Rooms,  to  which  they 
lead,  a secondary  Pursuit,  was  to  prevent  the  other  parts  of 
the  house,  being  encroached  upon  and  being  a thoro’fare  to 
these  Rooms.  These  Objects,  I believe,  we  have  accomplished, 
in  the  best  Manner,  the  Place  was  capable  off. 

I entended  to  have  given  you  an  exact  section  of  the  entry  and 
staircase,  but  Mr  Startin,  going  sooner  than  I or  even  himself 
expected,  I can  only  send  you  a rough  sketch,  drawn  by  the  eye 
only.  You  will  be  able  to  understand  the  Plans,  with  a little 
attention,  take  notice,  that  the  Rest  of  the  front  Stairs,  the 
rest  of  the  back  Stairs,  and  the  passage  between  the  two 
marked  AAA  are  all  upon  a leavel.  To  make  the  thing  as  plain 
as  possable,  let  us  take  a Walk  up  stairs.  We  have  now 
mounted  13  Steps,  and  are  upon  the  Rest.  This  you  see  is 
Circular,  it  is  so  made  to  avoid  having  Closetts  in  the  Great 
Room,  the  small  peice  that  Comes  into  the  Room  Capt  Joy 
says,  can  easily  be  hid,  by  throwing  an  Arch  from  the  Chimnie 
to  the  Partition,  which  will  be  Very  hansome.  This  rest  being 
circular,  affords  as  much  passage  Room  as,  if  it  was  square,  and 
will  more  naturally  lead  us  up  to  the  small  Rest  B,  and  into  the 


*49 


1771  Copley -Pelham  Letters 

painting  Room.  I beleive,  it  will  look  as  well,  if  not  better  than 
square;  if  you  have  any  Objections  to  this  plan,  you  must  let 
me  know  them  as  soon  as  possable.  The  upper  Room  will  be 
about  8 feet  9 Inches  under  the  Beam.  Your  great  Room  will 
be  a very  fine  one,  24  feet  long,  17.6  feet  Wide,  and  10  feet  high. 
We  discovered  the  other  day,  that  the  Chimney  in  this  Room 
has  no  Funnell,  one  of  the  foolishest  peices  of  Buisness  that 
could  be,  to  build  a Chimnie  without  a passage  for  Smoke.  We 
have  had  most  excessive  hot  Weather,  this  Month.  It  has  been 
the  death  of  several  People  here,  and  had  like  to  have  been 
Fatal  to  Capt.  Joy.  he  was  at  the  Common  one  morn’g  about 
3 Weeks  ago,  about  7 o’Clock,  he  was  [so]  over  come,  as  to 
endeavour,  with  the  Assistance,  of  one  of  his  Men  to  get  home, 
which  with  difficulty  he  affected,  within  a few  Minutes  after,  he 
was  to  appearance  almost  dead.  Doer.  Bulfinch 1 was  called, 
and  pronounced  him  a gone  Man,  but  by  the  application  of 
Medicine  he  after  a time  brought  him  to  his  Sences  again;  but 
it  has  left  him  soo  Weak,  that  last  Monday  the  Doctr.  per- 
mitted him  to  Walk,  for  the  first  time,  as  far  only  as  Mr. 
Laughton[’s]  Shop,  bottom  of  the  Lane.  Mr  Boylston,  you 
will  doubtless  have  heard,  is  dead,  he  has  left  5000  Dollars,  to 
Harvard  Colledge.  But  to  conclude , is  a reviving  Sentence  after 
a long  and  dull  Sermon.  I doubt  not  you  will  think  it  as  reviv- 
ing after  a long  and  dull  Letter.  My  Mamma  desires,  her 
kindest  love  and  Blessing  to  yourself  and  My  Sister.  Present 
my  most  affectionate  Regards  to  my  Sister,  Accept  the  same 
yourself,  and  beleive  me  to  be  with  truth  and  Regard,  Dear 
Sir,  Your  most  Affection[at]e  Brother  and  most  Humble  Sert. 

Henry  Pelham.  1 

x 

1 Dr.  Thomas  Bulfinch  (1728-1802),  father  of  the  architect.  See  Bulfinch, 
Life  and  Letters  of  Charles  Bulfinch. 


Copley -‘Pelham  Letters 


1771 


150 


Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 

Boston,  Septm.  2d,  1771. 

My  dear  Brother, 

I receiv’d  your’s  of  the  25  Inst  by  which  I am  sorry  to  find, 
you  are  very  anxious  to  have  your  Cause  bro’t  to  an  Issue,  this 
sitting  of  the  Court;  sorry,  only  as  it  has  not  been  in  my 
Power,  to  answer  your  Expectations.  Beleive  me,  when  I say,  I 
was  much  Chagrin’d,  when  I was  obliged  to  apply  to  Mr.  Quin- 
cey,  to  have  your  Cause  put  off  to  the  November  Adjournment. 
My  Reasons  for  doing  it,  were  the  difficulty  of  Coll.  Putnam’s 
Attendance,  and  the  bad  state  of  Mr.  Otis’s  Health.  Coll. 
Putman  in  a letter  to  me  says  — 

You  tell  me  in  your’s  of  15  Inst  that  Mr.  Copleys  Cause  stands 
for  the  second  Saturday  of  the  Courts  sitting.  You  must  remem- 
ber that  is  a time  when  I can’t  possably  attend;  because  it  is 
the  same  Week  the  inferior  Court  sitts  at  Worcester  and  I am 
not  now  certain  it  will  be  over  in  one  Week,  if  it  should  I may  at- 
tend the  second  Week  in  Septmr.  if  the  Cause  can’t  be  putt  off 
with  more  Convenience ’till  the  fall  Adjournment,  which  I should 
choose.  If  our  Court  finishes  the  first  Week  in  Septmr.  as  I hope 
it  will  and  Mr.  Copleys  Cause  must  come  on  the  second;  Give  me 
timely  notice  and  I will  be  there. 

Thus  you  will  find,  that  had  there  been  no  other  Obstacle, 
your  Cause  could  not  have  been  tryed,  till  the  second  Week  in 
Sepmr.  in  which  Week,  the  Court  will  sit  only  two  Days,  viz. 
Tuesday  and  Wednesday,  on  Tuesday,  there  was  a Cause 
assigned  by  the  Court,  so  that  the  time  was  reduced  to  one  day. 
The  third  Week  in  Septmr.  the  superior  Court  sitts  at  Worces- 
ter. Mr.  O — s’s  health  is  such,  as  renders  it  (in  the  opinion  of 
most  People,  perticularly  of  the  Court)  quite  improper,  to  trust 
a Cause  of  that  importance  and  difficulty  to  his  Care.  At  some 


i77i  Copley -Pelham  Letters  15 1 


times  he  is  raving,  at  all  times  he  is  so  bewildered  as  to  have  no 
dependance  placed  upon  him.  He  told  me,  that  the  Court  had 
peremtorally  ordered  the  Cause  to  be  tryed  on  the  ensueing 
Thursday,  upon  enquiry,  of  Mr  Quincey  and  Mr.  Winthrop, 
I found  it  was  a great  Mistake.  In  short  He  is  too  well  to  be 
dismissed  from  the  Cause,  too  unwell  to  manage  it.  Had  it  been 
possable,  I should  have  engaged  Mr.  Payne  to  have  spoke,  but 
Mr  0 — s thinking  himself  capable,  precluded  that.  I shall 
write  to  Coll.  Putnam,  next  post,  to  inform  him  that  the  Cause 
has  gone  off  to  November.  I should  be  glad,  that  you  would 
instruct  me,  about  the  finishing  the  body  of  the  upper  house, 
as  also  about  painting  and  papering  the  same,  about  Wood  for 
Winter.  Inform  me,  where  I shall  gett  some  more  Money  for 
Mr.  Joy.  As  it  will  be  impossable  to  have  both  houses  finished, 
so  as  to  go  into  them  with  safety  this  Fall,  it  is  proposed  to  have 
the  upper  house  finished  so  as  for  either  us  or  you,  to  move  into 
it  when  you  come  back.  My  Mamma  is  tolerable  well.  I have 
got  a Violent  Cold  increased  by  going  out  to  a Fire,  at  New 
Boston,  the  other  Night.  Betzey  is  well,  she  paid  us  a Visit  the 
last  Week.  Present  our  love  etc.  to  my  Sister,  accept  the  same 
yourself,  I am,  Yours,  most  Affectionately, 

Henry  Pelham. 

Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

New  York,  Sepmr.  9th,  1771. 

Dear  Brother, 

Your  Letter  of  the  2d.  Instant  came  to  hand,  it  gives  me 
peculiar  pleasure  to  hear  our  Dear  Mamma  is  so  well,  and  our 
other  friends,  yourself  excepted,  in  health,  this  makes  every 
other  disappointment  quite  tolerable,  nothing  in  this  Life  being 
of  importance  in  comparison  with  that.  Sukey  and  myself  are 


*5  2 


Copley -Pelham  Letters  1771 

in  full  possession  of  this  inestimable  Blessing  at  this  time,  and 
indeed  have  been  so  ever  since  we  left  you.  we  grow  impatient 
to  see  you  all,  but  must  not  expect  that  Blessing  till  late  in  the 
fall.  I find  it  a great  work  to  finish  so  many  pictures,  as  I must 
do  every  part  of  them  myself,  however  patience  will  accom- 
plish it  all  in  due  time,  and  I shall  have  more  sattisfaction  when 
I return  from  my  present  assiduety.  send  me  by  Smith  the 
frame  and  Glass  formerly  menshoned  and  Receipt  for  Varnish 
in  your  next  Letter. 

I am  sorry  my  Cause  has  been  posponed  till  Novemr.,  but  I 
hope  it  is  for  the  best,  and  would  have  you  apply  to  Coll. 
Putnam  prior  to  the  Coart’s  sitting  to  send  you  word  what  time 
will  be  convenient  for  him  to  attend,  and  you  can  then  have  the 
Cause  ranged  for  that  Day:  and  with  regard  to  Otis  you  must 
run  no  risque;  if  their  is  the  least  doubt  about  his  state  of  health, 
Paine  must  be  the  man.  I hope  you  have  not  advanced  him 
any  Money. 

I am  sorry  the  House  will  not  be  fit  to  live  in  this  Winter, 
you  had  better  get  the  upper  one  done  at  all  events.  I think 
their  is  only  some  Window  Shutters  and  Doors  to  make,  in 
which  you  must  be  as  frugal  as  possable.  as  to  the  Cornishing 
the  Rooms  (except  those  in  Joy’s  estimate)  I think  it  needless 
to  be  at  the  expence  of  it;  only  get  the  neet  low  prised  papers, 
carry  them  to  the  Sealing  and  with  the  Border  the  Rooms  will 
look  well,  the  House  we  lodge  in  is  so  and  looks  very  neet  and 
fit  for  the  firs[t]  Gentleman  in  this  City  to  live  in.  this  you  will 
understand  is  in  respect  to  the  two  front  Rooms  and  Chambers. 
Mr.  Joy  is  by  his  agreement  to  Cornis  those  he  makes  new.  as 
to  the  painting  you  know  how  your  Mamma  would  have  it 
done,  it  is  for  her  and  I would  have  you  please  her  in  that  and 
every  thing  else.  I hope  you  will  soon  receive  Colours  from 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


*53 


1771 


London  and  Glass,  etc.  as  to  the  Chimneys  I think  if  your 
Mamma  is  determined  to  put  up  the  stove,  I should  think  it 
needless  to  have  Jambstones.  plaster  painted  will  look  as  well 
and  your  Mamma  will  never  make  fire  in  the  Best  room;  so 
plaster  will  do  as  well  their  too,  but  Connecticut  Stone  hearths 
I think  will  be  best.  I only  menshon  these  things,  you  must 
please  our  Mamma,  but  you  know  my  plan  is  frugallity  and 
this  way  of  finishing  the  Chimneys  accurs  as  being  as  good  as 
any  and  much  Cheeper;  but  if  the  Stove  is  not  put  up,  than  I 
think  the  Keeping  Room  should  have  Jambstones.  But  judge 
in  this  matter  with  prudence  yourself,  as  your  Mamma  shall 
not  move  this  Winter  you  may  lay  in  your  own  wood,  and  when 
we  return  wee  will  look  out  for  ourselves  and  doubt  not  we  shall 
do  well,  you  must  mind  what  Mr.  Joy  was  to  do  in  his  agree- 
ment that  you  don’t  pay  for  anything  included  in  that.  I should 
think  the  Doors  that  go  from  the  front  Rooms  and  front 
Chamber  must  be  included  in  finishing  the  Entry,  this  you 
must  take  Care  of.  you  want  Money,  but  how  can  I answer 
your  question,  Viz,  where  you  shall  get  some,  when  you  have 
not  informed  me  from  whom  you  have  received  any,  how  much 
you  have  got,  and  Who  owes?  let  me  know  when  you  write 
next,  their  is  an  Acct.  of  Mr.  Hancock  of  about  20  Guineas, 
which  I suppose  if  you  are  in  want  you  may  have,  as  to  my 
receiveing  Money  here  I have  received  none  yet,  nor  do  I expect 
to  till  I am  coming  away,  when  I shall  receive  it  in  Bulk.  Coll. 
Lee  owes,  but  I am  very  loath  to  take  that,  it  is  on  interest, 
and  nothing  less  than  absolute  necessity  would  induce  me  to. 

I Wonder  the  Peazas  come  to  so  much  considering  the  Plainness 
of  them.  I should  not  conclude  did  not  you  want  to  know  on 
Acct.  of  the  Clossits.  you  must  talk  with  Joy  about  the  Price 
of  the  Posts  plain,  and  so  is  every  thing  else  indeed,  however 


!5  + 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


i77i 


see.  if  you  can  get  no  abatement  I will  have  them  done,  and  as 
I sketch’d  in  my  Letter  2 or  3 Weeks  ago,  would  have  the 
Chinea  Clossit  and  store  Room  in  the  East  Peaza  leaving  a 
passage  from  the  front  to  that  part  that  is  contiguous  to  the 
Kitchen ; and  what  you  have  Drawn  for  the  Store  Room  in  the 
Kitchen  shall  be  the  Pantry,  the  Size  is  good,  but  only  the  one 
Door  into  the  Entrey.  than  where  you  have  markd  a Clossit 
and  Entrey  I would  have  all  open  to  the  Kitchen  and  a very 
large  Window  or  two  of  those  old  one  to  the  north  for  Air  in 
hot  Weither,  and  I think  the  Plan  compleat.  make  no  Door 
from  the  Keeping  Room  Directly  into  the  Kichen. 

J.  S.  Copley. 

Our  Effectionate  Duty  [to]  our  Dear  Mamma.  [L]ove  to  all 
other  friends.  I have  received  a letter  from  Mr.  West  he  say[s] 
Mrs.  Deveroux’s  Picture  was  Exibitted  and  did  me  great 
Honour.  Shrimton  Hutchinson  has  a letter  that  compliments 
me  much  from  West,  no  blank  paper. 

Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 

Boston,  Septemr.  10,  1771. 

My  dear  Brother, 

I think  it  needless,  to  intrude  upon  your  time,  by  telling  you, 
what  I hope  you  know  allready,  the  Pleasure  we  take  in  hear- 
ing from  you.  I was  a little,  a little  did  I say?  I was  greatly 
disapointed,  in  not  receiving  a Line  from  you,  by  the  last  Post, 
but  that  was  agreably  compensated,  by  hearing  afterwards, 
from  Mrs.  Startin,  that  you  and  my  dear  sister  were  well.  Your 
not  writing,  I attribute  to  your  Buisness,  which  you  say  takes 
up  all  your  time,  an  ill  effect  proceeding  from  a good  Cause. 

We  are,  thank  God,  in  very  good  Health.  My  Mamma  is 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


I55 


1771 


tolerably  well,  my  Cold  has  left  me.  Miss  Betzey  I have  not 
seen  or  heard  from  Scince  my  Last. 

Inclosed,  is  Captn.  Paschall  Smith’s  Receipt  for  a Box  of 
Frames,  which  I hope  will  arrive  safe  to  hand.  The  Frames  are 
(I  think)  as  good  as  any  that  have  been  done,  and  are  such,  as 
I hope  will  please  the  Taste  of  the  Gentry  at  New  York.  If  you 
should  have  Occasion  for  more,  you  would  do  well  to  lett  me 
know  as  soon  as  possable,  that  they  may  be  ready  to  goe  by 
Capt’n  Smith,  when  he  makes  his  next  Trip. 

Your  Lawsuit — in  my  last,  per  Post,  I informed  you  perticu- 
larly  of  that.  As  the  Superior  Court  setts  by  adjournment  in 
November,  and  as  I suppose,  you  won’t  be  at  home  till  the 
middle  of  October,  I submitt  it  to  you,  weither  it  would  not  be 
best,  that  Mr.  Payne  should  prepare  himself  for  speaking  in  the 
Cause.  Mr.  Otis  you  can  not  have  the  least  dependance  upon, 
he  has  been  raving  distracted,  several  times  the  last  Week.  If 
you  should  determin  that  Mr.  Payne  is  to  speak,  it  would  be 
best  that  he  should  know  of  it,  as  soon  as  possable,  that  there 
might  be  no  Excuse,  for  his  not  being  prepared,  for  want  of 
time.  Mrs.  Sigourney  wants  very  much,  to  have  Mr.  Josiah 
Quincey  for  a speeker;  he  tells  her,  that  he  will  have  nothing  to 
do  in  the  affair,  unless  he  can  speak.  Mrs.  Sigourney  will  be 
entirely  satisfied  with^your  determination. 

Your  Works,  at  Mount  Pleasant,  go  on  very  Briskly.  The 
upper  house  is  in  it’s  place.  It  has  the  Cellars  finish’d,  the 
Chimnies  built,  the  Back  part  erected.  The  Roof  finished 
entirely.  It  makes  a very  noble  appearance,  and  its  situation 
is  pleasant  beyond  Discription,  beyond  Idea.1  I could  wish  the 
lower  house  stood  three  feet  higher  upon  its  foundation,  This 
House  is  also  in  a fine  forward  way.  The  Back  is  framed 

1 Erased  in  first  draft:  the  conception  of  the  most  lively  Imagination.” 


156 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1771 


erected  and  Boarded,  Chimnies  altered,  Roof  entirely  finished, 
rough  pertitions  and  rough  Ceilings  up  throughout  the  House. 
Captn  Joy  says,  he  shall  be  ready  for  the  Plastering,  in  about  a 
Fortnight,  and  that  you  may  come  into  the  House  this  fall  with 
all  safety.  I wish  the  matter  of  the  Peaza’s  was  determined,  as 
some  things  depend  upon  them,  for  instance,  if  it  was  deter- 
mined to  have  them,  the  Windows  might  be  placed  so  far  out, 
at  the  ends  of  the  House,  as  to  allow  Room  for  the  Box  casing 
for  the  shutters,  without  lessening  the  Rooms.  It  ought  to  be 
determined  upon,  before  the  House  is  Clapboarded.  The  front 
and  one  end  of  the  upper  house  must  be  new  Clapboarded,  will 
you  give  me  directions  about  it  ? the  Clapboards  on  the  other 
end  are  very  good.  Who  is  your  Glazier?  Mr  Gooch  1 has 
spoke  to  me,  to  know  if  you  will  give  him  the  jobb,  he  would  be 
very  glad  to  have  it.  Mr  Moses  Pitcher  has  likewise  applyed  to 
me,  he  would  be  much  obliged  to  you  for  your  employ,  in  the 
Glazuring,  Papering'and  Plumbing  Buisness’s.  Mr.  Miller  would 
be  glad  to  serve  you,  in  the  Papering  Way.  he  desired  me  to 
mention  it.  he  says  he  will  work  as  Cheap  and  do  his  Work  as 
well,  as  you  can  gett  it  done  in  Boston.  He  is  at  Work  at  the 
upper  house.  Mr  Winter  hopes,  you  will  be  so  kind,  as  to  lett 

him  do  what  Iron  Work  you  may  want.  Mr., 1 forget  his 

name,  no  matter,  would  recommend  slate  as  vastly  preaferable 
to  shingles,  and  would  be  proud  to  serve  Mr  Coplin.  I dont 
recollect  any  Body  else,  that  I have  to  recommend.  Would  it 
not  be  best  to  give  one  good  coat  of  paint,  to  the  Roofs  of  the 
Houses  ? it  appears  to  me  as  well  as  to  others,  that  it  would  be 
a great  benefit,  much  more  than  the  expence.  The  Chinese 
Rail  — Did  I inform  you  that  you  are  like  to  have  a fine  Crop 
of  Potatos  ? 


1 First  draft:  Mr.  Gough. 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


*57 


I77I 


You  would  do  me  a great  Kindness,  if  you  would  procure 
me,  if  it  is  to  be  had  at  New  York,  The  Church  Prayer  Book  in 
Latin.  I am  not  able  to  get  it  here.  If  you  can  get  one,  please 
to  send  it  by  Smith.  In  my  last  Letter,  that  per  Mr  Startin,  I 
gave  you  a discription  of  the  stair  case,  since  that  we  have 
made  Considerable  Alterations  in  the  Plan,  much  for  the  better. 
The  Passages  to  the  two  great  Rooms  will  be  much  more 
Roomly,1  and  much  easier  of  access,  it  would  be  very  difficult 
to  describe  it  in  a Plan.  I have  contrived  to  have  your  painting 
Chamber,  very  commodious  for  painting  a whole  length  Pic- 
ture. This  I will  discribe  by  a Plan.2  The  Part  of  the  Room 
marked  A is  made  considerably  higher  than  the  rest  of  the 
Room  B.  This  part  of  the  Room  A will  be  made  9 or  9 y2  feet 
high,  and  will  be  extended  9*4  feet  from  the  Great  Window. 
This  I think  will  be  ample  Room. 

Capt.  Joy  has  made  the  front  of  the  lower  House  11  Inches 
higher,  which  makes  it  look  much  better.  I had  like  to  have 
forgot  to  put  you  in  Mind  of  the  Lime  trees,  for  the  continuance 
of  the  Walk,  from  Mr.  Handcock’s.  it  will  be  a fine  time  to  send 
them,  by  Capt.  Smith  when  he  returns,  it  will  take  36  Trees  to 
go  to  the  Water.  The  Apples  that  I mentioned  in  a former 
letter,  a Barrell  of  Newton  Pippins,  a Barrell  of  Golden  Pippins, 
and  some  fine  Large  New  York  Water  Melons.  I have  prom- 
ised one  of  these  last,  so  that  I shall  depend  upon  them.  News, 
by  a Vessell  in  5 Weeks  from  London,  we  are  informed,  that 
Mr.  Wilks  is  Chosen  Sherriff  of  London.  That  the  Lord  Mayor, 
Aldermen,  and  Livery,  have  presented  another  Remonstrance, 
in  which  after  enumerating  many  greviances,  they  request  his 

1 Erased  in  first  draft:  “ Roomy.” 

2 There  is  a similar  plan  in  the  first  draft,  but  less  carefully  drawn,  and  giving 
fewer  details.  The  first  draft  also  has  this  drawing. 


158  Copley -Pelham  Letters  1771 

Majesty  to  Restore  them  their  Rights,  And  Peace  to  this 
unhappy,  and  distracted  Nation,  by  a speedy  Dissolution  of 
Parliament,  and  a Removal  of  his  Majesty’s  present  Wicked 
and  despotic  Ministers  forever  from  his  Councils  and  Presence. 
They  were  answered,  by  a peremptory  refusal,  and  a severe 
reprehe[n]sion,  for  using  such  indecent  Language.  My  Mamma 
presents]  her  kindest  Love  and  Blessing  to  Yourself  and  My 
Sister.  Accep[t]  my  own  Love  and  Compliments,  present  the 
Same  to  my  Sister.  My  Compliments  attend  Mr.  Startin.  I 
am  Dear  Sir,  Your  most  Affectionate  Brother,  most  obed[i]ent, 
and  Humble  Sert. 

Henry  Pelham. 

P S.  Rememr.  it  is  the  10  of  Septr.  also  Rememr.  October  is 
approaching,  and  also  that  Boston  stands  in  its  old  Place. 

Post  Script.  Boston  Sepr.  10  PM 

Dear  Brother 

I did  not  intend  after  so  long  a letter  as  that  of  this  date  to 
have  wrote  so  soon  but  this  is  to  let  you  know  that  you  can 
procure  Lime  Trees  from  Spriggs  Mr.  Handcock’s  Gardner. 
He  will  furnish  Trees  Plant  and  Warrant  them  for  18  Shillings 
O.  T.  a peice.  this  I imagine  will  be  Cheaper  than  they  can 
be  procured  from  N.  Y.  for,  considering  Risque,  Frieght  etc. 
Spriggs’s  Trees  are  four  Years  old  and  12  feet  High.  If  you 
think  proper  to  have  them  planted  this  fall  (which  I think  by 
all  meens  would  be  best)  let  me  know  as  soon  as  convenient], 
that  there  may  be  a first  Choice.  Mr  Sprigg  says  he  can  supply 
you  with  every  Fruit  Tree,  flowering  Tree  except  the  Tu[lip] 
shrub  or  Bush  that  you  can  want,  that  he  will  plant  them  and 
not  receive  his  pay  till  it  is  known  weither  the  Tree  etc.  lives 
or  not,  and  that  he  will  supply  you  as  Cheap  and  as  well  as  any 


I77I 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


T5  9 


Gardner  in  America.  For  Compl.  I refer  to  my  long  Letter. 
I am  as  there  your  most  Affectionate, 

Hen  Pelham. 

P.  S The  Tulip  Trees  are  plenty  with  you  and  it  would  be 
no  damage  if  you  was  to  send  some  of  them  by  Capt  S.  Good 
night. 

Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

New  York,  the  20  of  Sepr.  1771. 

Dear  Brother, 

Your  favour  by  Capt  Smith  I received  yesterday  and  shall 
answer  paragraph  by  paragraph.  The  frames  came  safe  to 
hand  and  I hope  will  do,  but  shall  know  better  when  they 
have  been  seen  by  those  who  will  want  frames,  and  soon  as 
possable  if  they  will  answer  you  shall  have  my  orders. 

As  to  my  Lawsuit  I think  you  had  better  write  to  Mr.  Payne 
let  him  know  when  the  Cause  must  come  on  and  desire  him 
to  be  ready,  let  him  know  Mr  Putnam  and  Mr  Quincey  is 
engaged  with  him  and  they  must  pursue  the  common  practice 
with  respect  to  speaking,  for  I am  determined  to  do  nothing 
to  give  offence  to  Mr.  Payne,  let  Mr  Payne  know  I depend 
on  his  being  ready.  But  dont  you  tell  this  to  Mr.  Quincey;  he 
need  know  nothing  q{  your  Charges  to  him  and  my  absence  is  a 
sufficent  covouring.  for  if  Quincey  Leaves  me,  I had  rather  it 
should  be  at  the  time  of  Tryal  than  sooner,  and  indeed  I dont 
think  I shall  be  at  home  so  soon  as  the  Cause  will  come  on,  and 
if  you  manage  well  my  Absence  may  be  turned  to  good  Acct. 
for  you  ‘know  you  cannot  with  any  reason  affront  Mr.  Payne, 
and  I left  no  perticular  Direction  for  Mr.  Quincey  to  speak, 
Suposeing  the  Attoumeys  would  take  proper  care  and  do 
what  was  proper  by  me  and  one  another,  but  be  sure  direct 


i6o 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


I77I 


Payne  to  be  prepaired,  furnish  him  with  any  papers  he  may 
want  etc.  The  Works  at  pleasant  Mount  go  briskley  — I am 
glad  of  it.  The  Peazas  you  have  my  Mind  upon,  but  I dont 
propose  they  shall  be  built  until  I return;  only  the  House 
finishd,  so  that  they  may  be  done  when  I return;  for  I think 
they  will  be  better  done  under  my  inspection.  The  front  and 
one  end  of  the  upper  House  you  say  must  be  new  Clapboarded. 
I am  willing  to  have  it  done,  but  agree  with  Joy  for  every  thing, 
if  you  don’t  like  the  Price,  don’t  get  it  done.  Who  is  my  Glaizer  ? 
I shall  like  Gooch  as  well  as  any  one,  if  he  does  the  Work  as 
Cheep,  see  others  first  and  see  how  low  you  can  get  the  Work 
done:  and  as  to  plumbing,  that  is  within  Joy’s  estimate,  if  by 
plumbing  you  mean  leads  for  Windows.  I had  as  leaves  Miller 
should  paper  as  any  one,  provided  he  does  it  as  Cheep;  but  I 
cannot  take  notice  of  all  those  who  desire  to  be  recommended, 
so  I shall  leave  them  and  you  do  Your  best.  I have  no  objection 
to  painting  the  roofs.  The  Chineese  I will  send  within  a fort- 
night. I am  Glad  you  have  improved  the  plan.  I have  been  all 
a long  Ancious  about  the  roomlyness  of  the  Passages  and  am  so 
now  about  the  hight  of  that  which  leads  to  my  great  Room. 
I hope  you  will  take  care  of  it,  as  you  may  ruin  the  House  by 
a mistake  in  that.  I like  your  alteration  in  my  Chamber. 
Mrs.  Copley  thinks  Locust  Trees  much  better  than  Lime.  I am 
of  the  same  oppinion.  the  Way  to  Judge  is  to  go  at  a distance 
and  see  if  the  Locust  will  not  be  so  high  that  you  may  see  the 
house  under  the  bows.  I think  they  will  and  that  the  Lime  will 
intercept  the  sight.  The  Locust  is  much  quicker  Growth  and 
much  Cheeper  etc.  Mellions  we  have  none  this  year  better 
than  in  your  Market.  Pippins  I will  take  Care  of.  it  is  now 
very  late  and  I must  to  bed,  for  we  rise  earley  to  set  out  for 
Philadelphia  and  shall  be  back  in  about  a Week.  When  I must 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


161 


1771 


work  like  a Beaver.  Mr  Startin  Mrs.  Copley  and  myself  are 
in  perfect  Health.  Our  Most  Effectionate  Duty  to  our  Mamma 
and  Except  our  Love  yourself,  and  remember  us  to  all  friends, 
perticularly  to  Mr.  and  Mrs  Green.  I shall  write  to  him  by 
Smith.  Your  Effectionate  Brother, 

John  S.  Copley. 


Mrs.  Syme  to  Copley 

Mrs.  Syme  presents  her  Compliments  to  Mr.  Copely  — She 
has  been  in  Expectation  all  this  Summar  of  receiving  her 
Father’s  picture  that  she  understands  he  has  sat  for  frequently. 
Will  be  obliged  to  Mr.  Copely  if  he  will  forward  it  as  soon  as 
possible. 

London,  21st.  Septem’r,  1771. 


Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 

Boston,  Septmr'.  24,  1771. 

Dear  Brother 

I have  only  time  to  acknowledge  the  Receipt  of  your’s  of  the 
9th  Instant  and  to  assure  you  that  it  is  with  greatest  Satisfac- 
tion that  we  hear  that  you  and  my  dear  Sister  still  enjoy  that 
health  you  have  before  given  me  so  pleasing  an  Account  of. 
My  Mamma  is  as  well  as  can  be  expected.  She  desires  her  kind- 
est Love  and  Blessing  to  you  and  my  Sister,  she  takes  very 
kindly  the  Respectful  and  tender  Sentiments  you  express  for 
her.  We  are  Glad  that  you  are  impatient  to  see  Boston,  but 
are  very  sorry  to  find  that  your  buisness  will  detain  you  till 
late  in  the  fall.  We  must  begg  that  you  would  not  delay  coming 
till  the  Weather  is  cold  and  disagrable.  Your  directions  with 


1 62  Copley -Pelham  Letters  1771 


regard  to  the  Lawsuit  [and]  the  Repairs  at  Mount  Pleasant 
shall  be  observed.  I have  talked  with  Capt  Joy  about  the 
Peazas.  he  says  that  he  could  not  possably  do  them  a farthing 
under  63  £ and  at  that  is  affraid  he  shall  not  be  able  to  make 
days  Wages.  I am  drawing  an  Elivation  of  the  House  with  the 
Peazzas.  it  will  (if  Possable)  have  the  advantage  of  the  first 
most  Beautifull  Plan.  The  Peazzas  extend  the  Front  and  by 
their  being  open  makes  it  appear  higher.  Comformable  to 
agreement,  Capt.  Joy  put  up  a small  plain  square  look  out,  but 
it  has  given  such  generall  Disgust  that  I was  obliged  to  have  it 
taken  down,  it  is  the  generall  Opinion  that  there  ought  to  be 
something  taisty  atop  of  the  House,  or  nothing  at  all.  For  the 
present  I have  directed  the  Roof  to  be  finished  with  a scuttle. 
Severall  People  have  applyed  to  me  to  know  what  you  pro- 
pose to  do  with  the  upper  House,  because  they  would  be  glad  to 
hire  it.  Capt.  Joy  is  again  Sick,  he  has  been  very  ill  abed  these 
two  days,  his  head  is  very  much  swelled  and  he  is  not  able  to 
speak,  occasioned  by  his  catching  Cold,  after  a great  Quan- 
tity of  Physick  he  had  taken. 

The  Frame  and  Glass,  I should  have  sent  had  I not  forgot  it 
till  after  Smith  Sailed.  At  Bottom  is  the  Receipt  for  Varnish. 
I have  received  Money  from  Messers.  Sargent,  Fenno, 
Barrell,  Goldthwait,  Pepperell,  Hancock  and  Mrs.  Watts. 
I have  about  9o£  O.  T.  by  me.  Mr  Jno.  Green  owes,  as  also 
Mr.  Flucker,  Mr.  Loring  and  Mrs.  Martin.  These  I wait  your 
directions  before  I apply  for  the  Money.  Mr  Jno.  Clarke  told 
me  he  should  write  by  this  Opertunity.  I have  not  seen  Betzey 
lately.  She  was  well  a Few  days  ago.  I intend  to  see  her  soon. 
Painting  I am  full  off.  Mr.  Barrell  going  for  Philedelphia 
afords  me  this  Opertunity  of  writeing.  By  the  way,  I hope  you 
and  my  sister  have  had  a Pleasant  Ride,  you  have  become  great 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


163 


1771 


Travellers.  I wish  I could  see  the  Original  or  a Copy  of  Mr. 
West’s  Letter  to  you.  I have  seen  his  to  Mr.  Hutchinson.  I saw 
Mr.  William  to  day.  he  told  me  that  the  two  great  American 
Artists  Mr.  Copley  and  Mr.  West  almost  entirely  engaged  the 
attention  of  the  Coniseurs  in  Britain.  I am  Obliged  to  conclude 
in  great  Hast  with  my  most  affectionate  Love  and  Regards  to 
my  dear  Sister  and  your  Self.  Your  most  Loving  Brother  and 
Humble  Sert. 

Henry  Pelham. 

P.  S.  every  body  desire  their  Compliments  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Copley. 


Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

New  York,  the  29  of  Sepr.,  1771. 

Dear  Brother, 

We  have  just  arrived  at  this  place  after  a very  pleasant  Jour- 
ney. Philadelphia,  We  thought  a place  of  too  much  importance 
not  to  Visit  when  we  were  so  near  it,  and  perhaps  might  never 
be  able  to  see  it  so  conveniently  if  we  missed  this  oppertunity. 
we  sett  out  last  Thursday  week,  the  Weather  very  fine,  and 
reach’d  the  City  on  Saturday  Eveng.  I have  seen  several  fine 
Pictures  with  which  you  would  have  been  Charmed  had  you 
been  with  us.  at  Mr,  Allen’s 1 (to  Whom  General  Gage  was  so 
obligeing  as  to  give  me  a letter)  We  saw  a fine  Coppy  of  the 
Titiano  Venus,  and  Holy  Family  at  whole  Length  as  large  as 
life  from  Coregio,  and  four  other  small  half  Lengths  of  Single 
figures  as  large  as  life,  one  a St  Cecelia,  an  Herodias  with  John 
Baptists  head,  Venus  lamenting  over  the  Body  of  Adonus  and 
I think  a Niobe,2  I cannot  be  certain.  The  Venus  and  Holy 

1 William  Allen  (i7io?-i78o),  chief  justice  of  Pennsylvania. 

2 This  was  first  written  Nioby. 


164  Copley -Pelham  Letters 


I77I 


Family  I will  give  some  account  of,  the  others  I will  leave  till 
I can  give  it  you  by  word  of  mouth.  The  Venus  is  fine  in  Colour- 
ing, I think  beyand  any  Picture  I have  seen,  and  the  Joints  of 
the  Knees,  Elbows,  etc.  very  Read,  and  no  Gray  tints  any- 
where to  be  found,  the  hair  remarkably  Yellow  and  I think 
the  face  much  inferior  to  any  other  part  of  the  figure  in  releiff 
and  Colouring,  there  is  no  minuteness  in  the  finishing;  every- 
thing is  bold  and  easey;  but  I must  observe  had  I Performed 
that  Picture  I should  have  been  happrehensive  the  figures  in 
the  Background  were  too  Strong.  The  Holy  F amily  is  not  Equil 
to  the  Venus  in  Colouring;  it  suffers  much  by  the  Comparison, 
tho  I do  not  think  it  indiferent  in  that  part  neither,  but  might 
be  pronounced  fine  in  Colouring  was  not  the  Venus  compaired 
with  it.  But  what  delights  us  in  this  picture  is  that  universal 
finishing  and  harmoniseing  of  all  parts  of  it.  I have  made  a 
slight  sketch  of  it  which  will  give  you  a better  Idea  of  the  Dis- 
position when  you  see  it  than  any  thing  I can  say.  in  the  Back 
and  fore  Ground  every  leaf  and  shrub  is  finish’d  with  the  utmost 
exactness.  The  flesh  is  very  Plump,  soft  and  animated,  and  is 
possesed  of  a pleasing  richness  beyand  what  I have  seen,  in 
short  there  is  such  a flowery  luxsuriance  in  that  Picture  as  I 
have  seen  in  no  other.  On  our  return  we  saw  several  Pictures 
at  Brunswick.  I have  no  doubt  they  are  by  Vandyck.  the  Date 
is  1628  on  one  of  them,  they  were  painted  in  Holland,  it  is 
without  doubt,  I think,  Vandyck  did  them  before  he  came  to 
England.  I should  be  glad  you  would  see  when  he  came  to 
England,  and  let  me  know  in  your  Answer  to  this,  in  those 
Portraits  there  is  a freshness  equeil  to  any  thing  you  can  con- 
ceive. they  are  lengths  and  on  Board,  with  all  the  minuteness 

of  finishing  of  the  omiments  belonging  to  the  Dress  which  is  the 
fashon  of  the  Times,  the  painting  has  not  suffered  any  thing 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


I771 


i65 


from  the  time  they  have  been  painted,  they  are  now  as  perfect 
and  fresh  as  ever  as  if  painted  but  yesterday.  I have  just  been 
informed  Smith  sails  at  8 o Clock  tomorrow  and  it  is  now  ten 
o Clock,  so  this  letter  designed  to  go  by  the  Post  shall  take 
passage  by  him ; but  I promised  to  write  to  Mr.  Green  by  Smith, 
but  what  can  I do?  I came  to  Town  at  2 o Clock  this  Day, 
and  Now  hear  he  sails  tomorrow  Mom’g.  do  apologise  to 
Mr.  Green  in  the  most  Effectual  Manner  by  telling  him  the 
truth,  give  Mrs.  Copley’s  and  my  Love  to  Mrs.  and  Mr.  Green. 

Sukey  and  myself  are  in  good  health  and  desire  our  Effection- 
ate  Duty  to  our  Dear  Mother,  to  yourself;  our  Love  and  de- 
sire to  be  remembered  to  all  our  friends. 

please  to  inform  Mr.  Clark  we  are  well,  and  give  our  Duty  to 
him,  etc.,  etc.,  etc.  let  Mrs.  Startin  know  we  left  her  better 
part  safe  and  well  in  Philadelphia  on  Thursday  Momg.  Sukey 
has  not  time  to  write.  Adieu  and  beleive  me  Your  Affectionate 
Brother,  . 

John  Singleton  Copley. 


Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

New  York,  12  of  Octr.,  1771. 

Dear  Brother, 

0 

Capt  Montresor1  going  this  Day  for  Boston  give  me  an  opper- 
tunity  of  informing  you  we  are  in  good  health,  and  desire  our 
most  Effectionate  Duty  to  our  Mamma  and  Love  to  your  self. 
I received  your  favour  by  Mr.  Barrell,  by  which  I see  who  you 
have  received  money  from,  and  think  the  amount  to  be  about 
14  hundred  pounds,  which  I should  have  thought  sufficient  for 
Capt.  Joy  till  I return,  as  the  work  I suppose  will  not  be  quite 
1 John  Montresor  (1736-1799). 


i66 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1771 


compleat.  but  be  that  as  it  may,  I would  have  you  get  the 
money  from  Green  if  possable.  I wrote  you  so  some  time  ago 
and  wonder  you  should  weit  my  orders  for  that.  I would  have 
you  be  as  urgent  as  possable  for  it,  for  I don’t  think  it  so  safe 
as  I could  wish,  you  know  there  is  an  note  of  hand  in  the  middle 
Draw  of  my  Desk  for  it.  Get  Mrs.  Martin’s,  [and]  Mr.  Loring’s. 
I should  not  chuse  you  should  ask  Mr.  Fluker.  I hope  you  have 
got  Mrs.  Dawson’s.  Likewise  some  from  Hudson,  tho  you  have 
not  menshoned  it.  I hope  you  will  be  able  to  make  out  till  I 
return.  I should  have  been  Glad  you  had  informed  me  how 
much  you  have  paid  Mr.  Joy.  the  Bearer  Capt.  Montresor  is 
a Gentlemen  we  have  received  great  Civility  from,  his  Lady  is 
Daughter  to  Doer.  Auckmuty 1 to  whom  I had  a letter  from 
Mr.  Walter,2  to  whom  make  my  Respectfull  Compts.  when 
you  have  oppertunity,  and  to  all  our  other  friends,  perticu- 
larlyMr.  and  Mrs.  Green,  and  beleive  me  your  Effectionate 
Brother 

J.  S.  Copley. 

I have  parted  with  the  two  small  frames,  but  cannot  yet 
give  orders  for  more,  because  I would  have  none  come  but 
what  are  engaged,  you  must  let  me  know  the  price  of  the  small 
ones;  I know  that  of  the  Large  ones,  let  me  know  what  you 
paid  Welch  for  Carving  and  Whiting  for  Gilding  and  Give  my 
compts.  to  Capt  Joy.  tell  him  I am  very  sorry  for  his  re- 
peated indisposition.  I am  in  extreem  hurry  adiew. 

1 Rev.  Samuel  Auchmuty  (1725-1777),  assistant  minister  of  Trinity  Church, 
New  York. 

2 Rev.  William  Walter  (1739-1800),  rector  of  Trinity  and  Christ  Churches 
in  Boston. 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


167 


177' 


Henry  Pelham  to  James  Putnam 

Boston,  October  2,  1771. 

Sir, 

The  Superior  Court  stands  adjourned  to  the  3d  Tuesday  of 
November  at  which  time  Mr.  Copley  hopes  his  Cause  may  be 
bro’t  to  a Tryall.  He  desired  me  to  enquire  from  you  the  time 
that  will  be  most  agreable  for  you  to  come  to  Boston,  as  I am 
directed  to  get  that  time  affixed  that  will  be  most  convenient] 
for  you.  My  Brother  desired  me  also  to  inform  you  that  Mr. 
Otis’s  Health  is  such  that  he  can  have  no  hopes  of  his  Assistance 
he  has  entirely  given  up  all  thoughts  and  expectations  of  obtain- 
ing it,  and  that  Mr.  Payne  is  the  Gentleman  that  is  to  speak 
with  you  in  the  Cause.  You  will  be  pleased  to  give  me  as  early 
notice  as  possable  of  the  time  you  propose  to  come  to  Boston. 

If  there  is  any  Papers,  etc.  that  you  may  want  from  this 
place,  I beg  you  would  inform  me  by  a line  per  Post  and  they 

shall  be  immediatly  forwarded. 

I am  with  Respect  Sir  your  most  obedient  and  Humble  Servt. 

Henry  Pelham. 

Henry  Pelham  to  Miss  Barrett 

[i77i-] 

Mr.  Pelham  presents  his  respectfull  Compliments  to  Miss 
Barrett,  acknowledges  the  receipt  of  3 Guineas  for  her  portrait, 
begs  leave  to  return  his  thanks  for  the  very  polite  Manner  in 
which  she  sent  them  and  for  the  fine  present  with  which  they 
were  accompanyed,  a present  rendered  more  pleasing  and  to 
him  most  truly  valuable  by  its  being  the  ingenious  Work  of 
so  fair  an  Artist. 


1 68  Copley -Pelham  Letters  1771 


Mr.  Pelham  thinks  the  best  way  of  apollogizeing  for  remiss- 
ness in  so  long  neglecting  to  return  his  thanks  is  by  telling  what 
is  real  Truth,  that  he  was  ashamed  to  see  Miss  Barrett  before 
he  had  finished  the  enclosed  which  he  has  had  so  long  in  hand 
being  prevented  by  buisn[e]ss  and  not  knowing  what  she  would 
like.  Such  as  it  is  Mr.  P.  now  begs  Miss  B.  acceptance  of  it  at 
the  same  time  wishing  it  was  better. 

J.  S.  Copley  and  Susanna  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

New  York,  17th  Octr.,  1771. 

Dear  Brother, 

When  I write  you  soon  after  my  letter  by  Capt.  Montresor 
you  have  neither  reason  to  complain  of  my  too  long  silence  nor 
of  remisness  if  I should  not  fill  my  paper,  this  Eveng.  I have 
devoted  to  my  Drawing,  but  a small  request  that  you  must 
grant  calls  me  off  a few  minutes,  it  is  this : if  Smith  sails  by  the 
first  of  Novr.  Sukey  would  be  glad  to  have  the  suit  of  Black 
that  youjr]  Mamma  gave  her  sent  by  him.  it  is  in  the  bottum 
of  the  Trunk  that  Contains  her  Linnen.  She'  fears  giving  our 
Mamma  too  much  trouble  and  think  you  may  do  it  without 
troubleing  her.  as  we  are  much  in  company  we  think  necessary 
Sukey  should  have  it,  as  her  other  Cloaths  are  mosly  improper 
for  her  to  wear,  as  she  must  put  on  some  little  mourn’g  for  her 
Sister.1  but  if  Smith  is  gone  when  this  come[s]  to  dont  attemp[t] 
to  send  it  by  any  other  way,  nor  if  he  dont  sail  till  the  latter 
end  of  the  first  Week  in  Novr:  for  we  propose  Leaveing  this 
place  by  the  last  of  that  month  or  beg[in]ing  of  Deer,  so  that 
She  will  do  without  it  as  well  as  she  can.2 

Mr  Copley  is  Call’d  of  Desirs  me  to  inform  you  that  we  are 

1 Mrs.  Barrett. 

2 The  remainder  of  the  letter  is  in  Mrs.  Copley’s  handwriting. 


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I77I 


C opley  -Pelham  Letters 


169 


well.  I have  nothing  new  to  add  but  that  I hope  the  time  draws 
near  when  we  shall  have  the  Happyness  of  meating  our  Friends 
again.  In  the  mean  time  please  to  present  our  Duty  to  our 
Mama,  Compliments  to  Miss  Maclavin,1  and  except  of  the 
Affecti[o]nate  Love  of  your  Brother  and  Sister, 

Susanna  Copley. 


Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 

Boston,  Octor.  22,  1771. 

My  dear  Brother, 

I shall  not  take  up  your  time  nor  my  Paper  in  describing  the 
Pleasure  we  take  in  having  a line  from  you  and  in  hearing  that 
you  and  my  dear  Sister  are  well  after  an  agreable  tour  to  Phile- 
delphia.  As  Mr.  Flagg  setts  out  tomorrow  morning  for  your 
City  and  as  my  time  is  short  I shall  without  further  Circumlo- 
cution proceed  to  inform  you  that  your  severell  Favours  of 
Septmr.  20th  and  29th  and  Octor.  12  came  safe  to  hand. 
Captn.  Smith  did  not  arrive  here  ’till  last  Thursday  so  that 
your  Letter  by  him  was  of  an  old  Date. 

I shall  answer  them  in  their  Order.  I have  wrote  to  Coll. 
Putnam  and  Mr  Payne.  Mr.  Payne  informs  me  he  shall  pay 
the  utmost  attention  to  your  Cause,  your  Other  Directions 
respecting  it  I shall  follow.  I have  endeavoured  since  you  left 
Boston  to  be  as  perticuler  as  possable  in  following  your  Direc- 
tions; but  with  regard  to  the  Peazas,  I have  been  obliged  to 
depart  a little  from  your  Inclination.  Captn.  Joy  informs  me 
and  I believe  you  will  see  it  yourself,  that  if  it  is  let  alone  till  the 
next  Season  it  will  cost  at  least  io£  Lawfull  if  not  io£  sterg. 
more,  and  it  will  be  impossable  to  do  the  Work  so  well.  If  they 
are  not  done  now  the  House  must  be  closed  Boarded  and  Clap- 

1 Miss  Peggy  Mcllvaine. 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1771 


70 


boarded  down  to  the  Foundation  and  Water  Tables  put  round. 
The  lower  Windows  must  be  capped  and  Cornished.  The  doors 
either  not  cut  out,  in  which  Case  it  will  make  a great  deal  of 
Work,  or  if  they  are  cut  out  the[y]  must  be  closed  at  top  and 
Caped,  all  which  will  be  thrown  away,  he  says  it  will  not  be 
possable  to  unite  them  so  well  to  the  House.  He  further  says 
that  he  is  quite  disinterested  in  it,  that  he  shall  be  but  just  able 
to  make  days  Wages  by  them,  and  had  much  reather  (for  his 
own  sake)  that  they  had  been  left  out  entirely.  As  the  case  was 
so  situated,  as  the  time  was  short,  and  as  by  your  several  Let- 
ters I found  it  was  your  intention  that  they  should  be  done 
some  time  or  other,  it  left  no  doubt  in  my  Mind  but  that  you 
would  think  it  was  best  to  have  them  done.  I have  accordingly 
after  the  maturest  Deliberation  and  advice  given  Orders  for 
their  being  done,  hopeing  they  would  meet  with  your  approba- 
tion. The  Passage  to  your  great  Room  is  very  convenient  and 
worthy  of  the  place  it  leads  to.  I don’t  think  the  Chinese  you 
sent  by  Smith  is  so  hansome  as  Mr.  VasselPs. 

In  yours  of  the  29th  I have  an  Account  of  your  Journey 
to  Philedelphia  and  a discription  of  some  capitall  Pictures.  I 
should  be  exceeding  happy  in  having  an  Opertunity  of  con- 
templateing  good  Coppys  after  some  of  the  best  Artists  that 
have  enriched  Europe.  I have  not  been  able  to  ascertain  at 
what  time  Vandyck  came  to  England.  F resnoy 1 and  Depile2  are 
entirely  silent.  Walpole  amidst  all  his  exactness  has  neglected 
to  give  us  that  date.  I think  it  probable  that  the  Pictures  at 
Brunswick  dated  1628,  must  have  been  done  before  Vandyck 

1 Du  Fresnoy,  De  Arte  Graphic  a.  It  was  translated  into  French  with  additions 
by  De  Piles  (1661).  There  are  English  translations  by  Dryden  (1695),  Wills 
(1754),  and  Mason  (1783),  the  last  with  annotations  by  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds, 
and  afterwards  included  in  Reynolds’s  Works. 

2 Roger  de  Piles,  The  Art  of  Painting. 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1771 


171 


came  to  England,  for  Walpole  says  “ Hearing  of  the  Favour 
that  King  Charles  shewed  to  the  arts,  Vandyck  came  to  Eng- 
land, hoping  to  be  introduced  to  the  King,”  that  “he  was  not,” 
that  “he  went  away  Chagrined,  but  his  Majesty  hearing  what 
a Treasure  had  been  within  his  Reach,  ordered  Sir  Kenelm 
Digby  to  invite  him  over  he  came  and  was  lodged  among  the 
King’s  Artists  at  Black  Friers.  Thither  the  King  went  often  by 
Water  and  viewed  his  Performances  with  singuler  delight,  often 
sitting  to  him  himself,  and  bespeaking  Pictures  of  the  Queen,  his 
Children  and  his  Courtiers,  and  Confered  the  Honour  of  Knight- 
hood on  him  at  St.  James’s  July  5,  J(5j2”  1 4 Years  after  the 
date  of  the  Brunswick  Picture.  I think  we  may  reasonably 
conclude  that  those  Pictures  were  done  before  his  arrival  at  the 
British  Court.  It  seems  very  unlikely  that  so  distinguished  a 
Patron  of  the  Arts  and  so  eminent  an  encourager  of  Artists  as 
Charles,  should  suffer  Vandyck  to  remain  in  his  Service  four 
Years  without  Confering  that  Mark  of  his  Royal  Favour. 
Your’s  by  Captn  Montresor  is  upon  moneyd  Matters,  by  the 
next  opertunity  I shall  send  you  a state  of  your  Acct.  I should 
have  sent  it  now  but  have  not  time.  I must  take  this  Opertun- 
ity to  make  great  complaints  of  Mrs.  Dawson,  after  several 
delays  she  has  given  me  to  understand  that  no  rent  shall  be 
paid  ’till  you  come  home,  and  that  you  cant  be  so  unreasonable 
as  to  expect  any  till  the  Place  is  put  into  good  repair.  Mr. 
Green  has  got  your  Letter,  he  say[s]  three  quarters  of  it  consists 
of  Apologies,  that  no  printer  would  undertake  to  print  your 
Life  and  Conversation  but  that  in  some  leasure  Hour  he  will 
write  it.  He  further  desires  his  and  his  Ladys  Love  to  you  and 
my  Sister.  My  Mamma  is  rather  unwell  has  a bad  Cold  she 
desires  her  kindest  Love  and  Blessing  to  you  and  my  Sister  and 

1 Walpole,  Anecdotes  of  Painting  in  England  (1762),  11.  90. 


172 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1771 


longs  to  see  you.  My  Brother  and  Sister  Pelham  were  in  Town 
a few  days  ago,  present  their  Love  and  Compliments.  I have 
heard  little  Betzey  was  well  a few  days  ago.  she  is  a fine  Girl  and 
is  almost  able  to  walk  alone.  Your  things  are  arrived  from  Lon- 
don in  13  Weeks  from  the  departure  of  the  Orders.  The  Glass 
is  very  good  but  3 Squares  out  of  184  Broak,  and  those  will  cut 
10-8.  The  White  Lead  I have  not  opened.  The  Box  contain’g 
Putty,  Brushes,  Chalks,  etc.,  has  gone  down  (by  the  Captns. 
Mistake)  to  Salem  from  whence  I expect  it  every  Moment. 
The  Cloths  are  good.  Inclosed  is  Copy  of  the  Invoice  and 
Letter.  Would  it  not  be  best  to  send  for  some  more  Paint  as 
200  lb  will  not  be  neer  enough  to  finish  both  Houses.  The 
Potatoes  are  dug  and  a prodegioujs]  Crop.  Woodward  and  I 
have  divided  80  Bushalls  between  us,  that  is  40  a peice.  I 
imagine  that  the  Field  produced  about  a Hundred  Bushall  and 
most  excellent  ones  they  are. 

We  had  like  to  have  had  the  Town  blown  about  our  Ears  a 
few  nights  ago.  A quantity  of  Oacum  in  the  store  Room  of  the 
Admiral’s  Ship  adjoining  the  Powder  Room  in  which  was  500 
Barrells  of  Powder,  by  some  Accident  took  fire  and  was  burnt. 
The  new  powder  house  at  the  back  of  the  Hill  goes  on  briskly. 
I believe  the  Town  will  be  perfectly  Secure  from  it  in  that  Situ- 
ation, it  will  be  finished  in  eight  Weeks. 

The  Question  is,  as  Mr.  Fayerweather  says,  shall  you  be  at 
Home  this  Fall  or  shall  you  not?  I am  dear  Sir  with  my  Love 
and  Compliments  to  yourself  and  my  Sister,  Your  Affectionate 
Brother  and  Humbl.  Sert. 

Henry  Pelham. 

P S.  I have  just  found  myself  in  a great  Dillemma.  I applyed 
to  several  Painters  for  boyled  oyl  to  paint  the  outside  of  the 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


J7  3 


I77I 


Houses,  but  to  my  surprise  found  that  there  is  none  to  be  had. 
Mr  Gore  has  but  about  30  Gallons,  and  wont  spare  a drop  of 
that  without  I take  a proportionable  Quantity  of  Colour.  As 
the  Stages  are  up  I have  been  obliged  to  bye  a hundred  lb.  of 
White  lead  with  a proportional  quantity  of  Oil,  to  carry  on  the 
painting.  If  there  is  any  Linseed  Oyl  to  be  had  at  New  York, 
you  had  better  send  a Barrell  as  soon  as  possable.  Or  I think 
the  better  way  would  be  to  send  and  bye  it  at  Philedelphia. 
As  this  is  the  time  of  year  that  Vessels,  come  from  Philedelphia 
to  Boston,  it  may  be  easily  done.  NB.  There  will  be  no  Oyle 
to  be  had  here  till  the  Spring.  Yours  as  above. 

H.  P. 


Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

New  York,  6th  of  Novr,  1771. 

Dear  Brother, 

I have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  your  favour  by  Mr.  Flagg 
came  to  hand,  after  a long  silence  of  four  months  I had  like 
to  have  said,  but  upon  recollection  find  it  to  be  four  weeks.  I 
am  almost  led  to  beleive  you  of  a Revengefull  Temper  and  that 
you  mean  to  retaliate  with  interest,  or  do  you  Imagin  it  gives 
us  no  pleasure  to  hear  from  you  ? if  you  think  so  I assure  you 
are  much  mistaken,  for  be  assured  it  is  a pleasure  greater  than 
I can  express  to  receive  a Letter  from  you,  and  as  great  a 
disappointment  not  to  receive  one  when  the  post  comes  in. 
but  I must  leave  this  Subject  or  I shall  fill  my  Paper,  and  I have 
a thousand  things  to  say.  it  gives  me  much  uneasiness  to  hear 
our  Dear  Mama  is  unwell,  but  I hope  she  is  better  by  this  time, 
pray  present  our  most  Effectionate  Duty  to  her.  We  Long 
much  to  see  you  all.  I work  with  extreem  application  to  hasten 
that  happy  time  which  will  be  by  Christmas  at  farthest,  for  I 


1 74 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1771 


now  see  all  my  work  before  me.  But  it  takes  up  much  time  to 
finish  all  the  parts  of  a Picture  when  it  is  to  be  well  finishd,  and 
the  Gentry  of  this  place  distinguish  very  well,  so  I must  slight 
nothing.  I beleive  you  will  think  I shall  do  very  well  to  finish 
the  amount  of  thirty  Busts  in  20  Weeks,  besides  going  to  Phila- 
delphia which  took  up  2 Weeks  of  the  20;  and  this  I shall  do  at 
least  by  the  time  I menshon,  and  you  may  be  assured  it  is  my 
determination  to  be  at  home  at  the  time  I menshoned  tho  much 
impertuned  to  stay.  I have  been  obliged  to  refuse  a great  deal 
of  Business  here  and  in  Philadelphia.  I have  done  some  of  my 
best  portraits  here,  perticularly  Mrs.  Gage’s,  which  is  gone  to 
the  Exibition.1  it  is  I think  beyand  Compare  the  best  Lady’s 
portrait  I ever  Drew;  but  Mr.  Pratt2  says  of  it,  It  will  be  flesh 
and  Blood  these  200  years  to  come,  that  every  Part  and  line  in 
it  is  Butifull,  that  I must  get  my  Ideas  from  Heaven,  that  he 
cannot  Paint  etc,  etc.  I am  fatigued;  must  therefore  draw  to  a 
close  but  say  somthing  first  about  my  Lawsuit,  the  time  Draws 
near  when  I hope  there  will  be  no  impediment  to  its  coming  to 
Tryall.  I am  sorry  you  could  find  nothing  on  the  Chambridge 
Records,  but  hope  you  have  taken  some  thought  about  that, 
that  is,  if  possable,  by  some  means  to  assertain  the  fact,  for  it 
may  be  of  great  importance,  as  to  Mr.  Quincey  I think  it  is 
rather  Luckey  my  absence  furnish’s  so  good  reason  for  the 
Lawyers  settleing  among  themselves  who  shall  speak,  for  you 
can  with  no  propriety  set  any  one  aside  to  make  room  for  a 
younger  without  my  express  orders,  and  I never  gave  you  any. 
therefore  they  must  do  what  is  custommary,  and  if  Mr.  Q is 
so  sett  as  to  leave  the  Cause,  you  nor  I can  help  it,  tho  in  my 

1 Exhibited  in  1772,  and  described  in  the  catalogue  as  “a  lady,  half 
length.” 

2 Matthew  Pratt  (1734-1805),  who  had  studied  under  Benjamin  West.  Dunlap, 
History  of  the  Arts  of  Design , 1.  98. 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


'75 


1771 


absence  it  will  be  treating  me  ill  in  a pecular  manner,  do  you 
attend  the  Tryall  and  mark  every  point,  observe  every  Surcum- 
stance,  and  sit  at  the  Lawyer’s  elbow  to  be  ready  to  remind  him 
if  he  should  be  at  a loss. 

The  Peazas  I would  not  have  had  done  only  on  this  acct, 
least  they  should  not  be  done  right.  But  if  you  are  at  a loss 
about  any  thing  Capt.  Montresor  can  and  will  sett  you  right 
with  pleasure,  one  thing  observe,  that  you  make  the  boards  of 
the  floor  run  across,  that  is  the  end  of  the  boards  to  but  against 
the  side  of  the  house  and  let  them  have  a decent  of  4 Inches  in 
10  foot  which  is  the  breadth  in  the  Clear  of  the  Peaza.  but 
there  is  one  thing  I should  chuse  different  from  what  Capt. 
Montresor  would  make,  he  would  have  the  boards  of  the  floor 
at  a small  distance  from  each  other,  to  let  any  warter  run 
through;  but  I would  have  them  quite  Close  and  as  neat  as  pos- 
sable.  I have  been  two  much  ingaged  to  send  the  Chinese  but  will 
as  soon  as  possable.  I am,  Dear  Brother,  Yours  Effectionatly, 

J.  S.  Copley. 

Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

Novr.  24,  1771.  New  York. 

Dear  Brother, 

I duly  reed,  yours  of  the  17  instan[t]  am  sorry  to  find  you 
have  been  so  unwell,  hope  ere  this  time  you  have  perfectly 
recover’d  your  health;  also  our  Mama,  whom  we  hope  ere  long 
to  see  in  her  usual  health,  pray  give  our  Effectionate  Duty  to 
her  as  also  Love  and  comp’ts  to  all  our  other  friends  and 
acquaintances,  etc.  We  have  just  come  from  Mr.  Verplank’s 
where  we  have  spent  the  Even’g;  therefore  you  will  I hope 
excuse  my  Brevity,  you  say  of  my  Action  it  is  to  come  on  the 
10  Day  of  Deer.;  but  why  was  it  not  try’d  at  the  Novr.  Adjourn- 


176  Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1771 


ment?  And  suppose  Coll  Putnam  should  not  be  well  anough, 
must  I submit  it  to  Mr.  Pain  and  Josiah  Quincey  ? I should  be 
loath  to,  if  it  be  possable  to  help  it.  if  the  Coart  met  this 
month  I shall  think  hard  of  Coll  Putnam  for  puting  it  off.  I 
design  to  write  to  him  by  Wednesday  Post,  but  dont  let  that 
prevent  your  writing  just  as  if  I did  not.  I have  now  been  weit- 
ing  upwards  of  12  Months  for  his  assistance  and  shall  think 
myself  not  well  used  if  I am  finially  deserted  by  him;  but  I will 
hope  better  things  and  weither  to  advise  for  tryall  or  not,  if  he 
cannot  attend,  I am  totally  at  a loss,  do  give  my  comp’ts  to  Mr. 
Goldthwait  and  beg  him  to  advise  you  herein,  tell  him  all 
Surcumstances,  also  advise  with  him  about  the  fees  to  Mr. 
Pain  and  the  Quinceys.  I think  Mr.  Paines  need  not  be  so 
much  as  the  Coil’s,  and  S.  Quincey  wont  expect  more  than  an 
y2  Johanees.  Joh  Quincey  I suppose  will  not  take  any  if  he  dont 
speak;  and  if  Coll.  P[aine]  dont  attend  and  you  shall  with 
advise  of  Mr.  Goldthwait  and  my  other  friends  bring  it  on,  he 
was  to  have  five  Guineas  as  proposed  by  himself.  But  you  must 
not  Look  on  yourself  Tied  up  by  me  in  any  of  those  matters.  I 
am  tired  of  delays,  but  I would  do  nothing  rash,  you  will  know 
more  when  you  write  to  Coll.  Putnam  about  the  prospect  there 
is  of  his  attendance,  do  be  attentive  and  let  Mr.  Goldthwait 
know  I have  rested  the  determination  on  him,  and  beg  he  will 
advise  you  in  it.  menshon  the  Danger  of  Losing  Judge  Cuishon 
and  Linds,1  who  are  boath  old.  perhaps  my  Antagonists  wish  for 
the  Delay  in  hope  to  avail  themselves  of  that  advantage.  You 
forgot  the  frame  and  Glass  and  to  menshon  Betsey.  I am,  Dear 
Sir,  Your  most  Effectionate  Brother, 

John  Singleton  Copley. 

1 John  Cushing  and  Benjamin  Lynde,  judges  of  the  Superior  Court  of  Judica- 
ture. 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


177 


177 


P S:  Sukey  and  myself  are  perfectly  well,  you  have  never 
menshoned  in  all  your  Letters  Antonio.  I am  rather  inclined 
to  think  it  better  not  to  have  the  Tryal  without  Coll.  Putnam; 
although  I know  the  consiquence  will  be  lengthening  out  an- 
other year,  yet  I should  think  this  the  safest.  Brother  Startin 
promis’d  me,  if  you  stood  in  need  of  some  Cash,  20  or  30 
Guineas,  to  supply  you.  We  had  some  hopes  of  living  this 
Winter  in  the  upper  house  ourselves,  but  you  may  let  Stutson 
live  there  if  you  please. 

Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 

Boston,  Novemr.  28,  1771. 

Dear  Brother, 

...  We  have  been  most  remarkably  Lucky  in  Weather  for 
carrying  on  the  Works  at  Mount  Pleasant.  It  has  been  and  still 
continues  very  moderate  Weather.  The  lower  House  was 
finished  plastering  yesterday.  The  upper  House  will  be  finished 
in  a few  days. 

In  your  great  Room,  instead  of  the  common  manner  of  fin- 
ishing with  Arches  at  the  side  of  the  Chimnie  I have  substi- 
tuted a Couple  of  Niches,  which  have  a clever  effect  and  are 
quite  uncommon.  They  are  so  large  as  to  receive  a Figure  4 
feet  high.  Politicks  are  reviving  in  full  splendor.  The  Printer1 
of  the  Spy  has  fallen  under  the  censure  of  the  Governor  and 
councill,  who  seem  to  be  endeavouring  to  revive  the  justly 
exploded  method  of  Tryal  upon  Information,  and  have  arbi- 
trarily ordered  a Gentleman  to  appear  at  his  Perrill  before  them 

1 Isaiah  Thomas.  In  the  issue  of  the  Massachusetts  Spy  of  November  14  he 
printed  a piece  signed  “Mucius  Scaevola”  reflecting  upon  a clause  in  a late  proc- 
lamation of  the  governor.  Hutchinson  ordered  the  King’s  Attorney  to  begin  a 
prosecution. 


178  Copley -Pelham  Letters  1771 

to  answer  upon  Interegatories.  They  have  unfortunatly  for 
themselves  and  the  Publick  ingaged  Deeply  in  Measures  that 
must  end  either  in  their  own  dishonor  or  be  the  source  of 
the  utmost  Confusion  to  the  Province.  It  becomes  peculiarly 
necessary  for  the  People  to  preserve  inviolate  what  Laws  we 
have  already,  as  it  is  not  likely  we  shall  have  any  new  ones, 
unless  the  House  at  the  ensueing  Sessions  should,  as  a Writer 
in  the  Spy  says,  meanly  give  up  every  remaining  Privilidge. 
Our  commander  in  Chief  has  received  instructions  from  his 
Lordship  of  Hillsboro’  to  consent  to  no  Tax  act  or  other  Law, 
unless  the  Commissioners  and  all  other  Crown  Officers  are 
exempted  from  paying  Rates. 

We  have  had  several  sudden  Deaths  this  Morng  Mr.  Sheaff 1 
the  D.  Collector  died  of  a fit  of  the  Palsey.  He  was  taken  ill 
the  last  Eveng.  I have  not  time  to  add  further  than  that  with 
my  best  Love  and  Respects  to  yourself  and  my  Sister  I remain 
Your  most  affectionat[e]  Brother  and  Humble  Sert. 

Henry  Pelham. 

P.  S.  Every  Body  present  their  Compliments  to  you  and 
beg  that  you  would  come  home  as  they  want  to  have  their 
Pictures  done.  Lord  William  Campbell,  Govornor  of  Nova- 
Scotia,  was  at  your  Room  a few  days  ago.  he  says,  he  wonders, 
that  you  bury  yourself  in  this  Country  and  that  he  thinks  you 
are  the  greatest  Genioujs]  in  the  World. 

Little  Cousin  Betzey  was  well  and  hearty  a few  days  ago. 
I must  now  go  and  write  a long  story  about  Thomas  Banister 
and  his  three  Sons,  Thomas,  Samuel  and  John  and  their  heirs 
forever.  So  I wish  you  a good  Night. 

* William  Sheaffe. 


I77I 


Copley  -Pelham  Letters 


179 


Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

New  York,  the  15  Deer.,  1771. 

Dear  Brother, 

I take  this  oppertunity  of  informing  you,  I have  sent  by 
Capt.  Smith  (who  sails  this  Day)  51  Trees  of  the  Best  fruit 
this  Country  affoards,  also  some  wild  Laurell  which  I think  a 
very  butifull  Flowering  Shrub,  the  Laurell  is  in  earth  in  a 
Barrell.  also  3 Barrels  of  Newtown  Pippens,  and  as  many  for 
Mr.  Clarke  which  I beg  you  to  inform  him  of,  as  I dont  write 
to  him  by  this  oppertunity.  and  one  trunk  Directed  to  Mr 
Jonathan  Clarke.  Likewise  the  Large  Box  with  the  large 
Frames  which  I have  not  been  able  to  Dispose  of.  your  favour 
per  Mr  Glover  came  to  hand,  we  are  happy  to  hear  you  are  all 
well,  and  that  at  last  I can  inform  you  this  Week  finishes  all 
my  Business,  no  less  than  37  Busts;  so  the  weather  permiting 
by  Chrismass  we  hope  to  be  on  the  road;  but  you  must  not 
expect  our  journey  will  be  less  than  a fortnight  at  this  season, 
as  we  propose  to  take  so  much  care  of  ourselves,  and  which 
we  may  very  well  do,  as  the  Country  is  surprisingly  settled 
between  Boston  and  York,  you  scarcely  lose  sight  of  an  house, 
you  may  omit  writing  any  more  as  we  cannot  expect  to  meet 
another  Letter  here  Wrote  after  this  reaches  you. 
s Give  our  Effectionate  Duty  to  our  Hond  Mama  and  except 
our  sincere  Love  yourself.  I am  your  most  Effectionate 
Brother, 

John  Singleton  Copley. 

PS.  please  to  Give  our  Duty  to  Mr.  Clarke,  Love,  etc.  to 
our  Brothers  and  Sisters,  etc.,  etc.,  etc. 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1 80 


1772 


John  Hancock  to  Copley 

Mr  Hancock 1 presents  his  Complimts.  to  Mr.  Copley,  has 
just  rec’d  his  Message,  is  extremely  sorry  it  so  happens,  but  the 
Lady  to  whom  he  Refers  has  been  some  days  Confin’d,  that 
she  is  not  in  a Situation  to  wait  on  him  to  morrow  but  the 
moment  her  health  will  admit,  Mr.  Hancock  will  with  pleas- 
ure inform  Mr.  Copley.  Mr.  Hancock  hopes  Mrs.  Coply  and 
Connections  are  well. 

9 Jan’y.  1 772. 

[ ] to  [Montresor?] 

[January,  1772.] 2 

My  ever  Dearest  Cousin, 

It  has  been  a matter  of  great  concern  to  me  that  I coul’d  not 
send  you  the  things  I now  do,  by  the  Ships  that  went  from  hence 
the  last  Autumn;  I did  not  receive  your  Letter  dated  17  Augt. 
untill  the  6th  Novr.  following.  Captn.  Stephens  told  me  he  had 
met  with  severe  Gales,  which  had  oblig’d  him  to  put  back  to 
New  York;  at  the  time  of  his  Arrival  here  all  the  Ships  for 
America  were  gone.  I must  also  appoligize  for  not  having 
wrote  by  the  Packet,  which  I shou’d  certainly  have  done  had  I 
not  been  severely  afflicted  with  the  Rheumatism  in  my  stomach 
and  Bowels,  under  which  disorders  I still  Labour  tho  not  in  so 
great  a Degree  and  I have  hopes  of  getting  still  better.  I pur- 
chac’d  a Lottery  Tickett  as  you  directed  the  No.  17  m 697, 
which  I had  secur’d  as  your  property,  by  an  Endorsment 
declaring  it  to  be  yours,  and  witness’d  by  two  of  your  hearty 
well  wishers,  Henry  Austen  Esq.,  and  Mr.  Rd.  Jones  both  of 

1 The  name  has  been  erased  but  the  H and  k are  still  legible. 

2 So  endorsed  by  Henry  Pelham. 


1772 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


181 


the  Searchers  Office;  it  had  not  the  Sucess  I ardently  wish’d, 
yet  you  have  your  Money  again,  after  remaining  in  the  Wheel 
of  Fortune  untill  the  last  Day  of  finishing,  it  was  drawn  a prise 
of  20 £,  which  I have  sold  for  £17:  16.  Goverment  deducts  £10 
per  Cent  on  all  prises,  so  that  you  are  only  a gainer  of  £4.6  by 
your  chance,  you  will  see  by  the  inclos’d  account  and  by  the 
Bills  and  receipts  which  are  pack’d  up  by  my  good  Girl  in  one 
of  the  Boxes,  that  we  have  been  obligd  in  several  articles  to  ex- 
ceed the  price  Limited,  but  we  were  under  a necessity  of  doing  so, 
or  not  getting  the  things  in  Jwhich  we  have  so  exceeded  agree- 
able to  the  opinion  of  my  wife,  whose  judgment  on  these  occa- 
sions I never  contest;  she  writes  to  your  beloved,  and  I hope 
will  give  a good  account  of  her  self,  if  one  can  judge,  by  the 
alacrity  with  which  she  sets  about  it,  and  the  pleasure  which 
seems  to  animate  her  she  will  succeed.  I am  under  some 
apprehension  in  respect  to  the  Liverys,  the  Hat  and  Cap,  as 
you  did  not  give  any  demensions  for  them,  I have  them  [made] 
rather  of  the  largest  size,  as  it  is  more  easy  to  take  in,  than  let 
Out,  in  other  respects  I hope  they  will  be  as  you  desire;  I do  not 
send  you  a Brawn  as  I imagine  it  wou’d  not  be  in  proper 
season;  but  if  you  please  I will  by  the  next  Autumnal  Ships 
send  one  which  will  be  in  Time  for  Christmas;  I have  several 
acquaintance  in  Oxfordshe  which  County  is  held  famous  for 
that  meat,  from  thence  I propose  to  send  it.  The  picture 
frames  are  not  of  Carlo  Marratti  kind,  they  are  at  present  not 
the  Taste,  the  person  I employ’d  agreed  to  make  them  at  the 
price  propos’d,  but  with  some  hesitation.  I insisted  they  shou’d 
be  done  very  neatly  and  well  Gilt  or  desir’d  him  not  to  under- 
take them,  as  I wou’d  rather  pay  something  more  then  have 
them  clumsely  executed,  he  promis’d  they  shou’d  be  well  done. 
I hope  they  will  prove  so.  Let  me  congratulate  my  Dear  Friend 


1 82  Copley -Pelham  Letters  1772 

on  having  employ’d  so  ingenious  an  Artist  as  Mr.  Copley,  our 
people  here  are  enraptur’d  with  him,  he  is  compard  to  Vandyke, 
Reubens  and  all  the  great  painters  of  Old.  I saw  one  of  his  por- 
traits at  Mr.  Wests,  it  was  of  a Woman 1 and  a very  ordinary 
one,  and  yet  so  finely  painted  that  it  appeard  alive.  West  was 
lavish  in  its  praises,  pointed  out  its  beauties,  the  natural  fall 
of  the  arm  and  hand,  the  delicate  manner  in  which  the  light 
was  carried  thro  the  whole,  and  many  other  things  which  I 
forget;  in  short  he  said  Mr.  Copley  wou’d  make  no  small  figure 
in  the  World  of  Painters,  and  told  me  that  your  portrait  was 
admirably  well  executed,  and  I wish  you  joy  of  it.  I receiv’d 
some  time  ago  a Letter  from  Coll.  Montresor,  in  which  he  tells 
me  he  laments  the  expence  he  has  been  at,  for  his  Lands  in 
America,  that  they  will  never  be  of  any  advantage  to  him 
(unhappily  what  he  only  considers)  and  desires  me  to  try  if  I 
cannot  let  them  for  him  to  some  Merchant  adventurer,  on 
Lease  of  99  Years  at  6d  per  Acre,  I have  been  so  111  that  I 
could  not  answer  his  Letter,  neither  did  I intend,  farther  than 
to  amuse  him,  untill  I had  consulted  you.  I do  not  apprehend 
any  Person  will  give  6 d per  Acre  for  Lands  in  America  that 
must  be  settled  and  Cultivated  at  great  expence;  but  I am 
afraid  that  the  same  consideration  which  induces  him  to  wish 
to  Let  these  Lands  will  also  prompt  him  to  sell  them,  if  he  can 
get  £100  or  so  by  them;  in  which  case  they  wou’d  be  lost  to  you 
and  your  family  to  whom  hereafter  they  may  be  of  the  greatest 
advantage;  therefore  if  what  I conjecture  shou’d  take  place 
what  Method  cou’d  be  taken  to  put  a stop  to  it?  and  if  they  were 
to  be  sold,  wou’d  it  be  not  proper  for  you  to  be  the  purchaser 
rather  than  a Stranger?  or  supposing  you  wrote  to  him,  telling 
him  there  was  a better  chance  of  Letting  them  in  New  York 

1 Mrs.  Devereux? 


i772 


183 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 

then  in  England;  by  which  means  you  might  gain  time  to 
deliberate  what  resolution  to  take,  any  instructions  you  can 
give  me  relative  to  it  I will  endeavour  to  execute,  for  I heartily 
wish  he  may  not  sell  these  Lands  for  the  reasons  I have  men- 
tion’d. I have  a strang  piece  of  News  from  Denmark.  The 
Article  says  that  the  Young  Queen  has  long  been  suspected  to 
have  carried  on  an  Intrigue  with  her  Physician  (a  Scotch  Man 
who  went  from  England  when  she  married).1  The  Populace 
suddenly  broke  into  the  Palace  imprison’d  the  Queen,  and  (it  is 
said)  put  the  Physician  to  Death;2  Time  only  can  clear  up  this 
Matter;  perhaps  it  may  be  an  Intrigue  carried  on  by  the  Queen 
Dowager,3  who  jealous  of  the  legal  Power  being  soley  in  the 
hands  of  the  Young  Princess,  might  wish  to  [: incomplete ] 

Henry  Pelham  to  [Miss  Peggy  Mcllvaine?] 

Boston,  March  1st.  1771  [1772]. 

Dear  Miss  Peggy, 

Your  agreable  Favour  of  Jany.  28  1772  came  to  hand  but  a 
few  days  ago.  By  it  we  have  the  Pleasure  of  finding  that  You, 
Your  [Sister]  Mrs.  Billings  and  family  were  well.  Had  not  Mr. 
Buttler  told  us  that  he  saw  you  well  at  Falmouth,  I should 
have  been  uneasy  for  you[r]  safe  Arrival  at  home.  My  Mamma 
who  is  tolerably  well  desires  her  kindest  Love  to  [you]  and  Mrs. 
Billings  and  is  exceeding  glad  to  hear  from  you.  We  were  really 
quite  lonesome  after  you  Left  us,  and  much  wanted  your  good 
Company.  As  my  time  is  short  I must  briefly  tell  you  some 
Peice  of  News.  Brother  and  Sister  Copley,  have  returned  after 
seven  Months  abscence  in  Charming  hea[l]th.  they  arived  the 

1 Carolina  Matilda,  wife  of  Christian  VII,  and  mistress  of  Struensee. 

2 He  was  beheaded  April  28,  1772. 

3 Juliana  Maria,  widow  of  Frederick  V. 


184  Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1772 

Third  of  January.  Left  York  Chrismass  day,  had  a fine 
Season  for  Travelling  and  luckely  finished  their  Journey,  before 
the  Weather  sot  in  very  severe.  the[y]  have  spent  a most 
agreable  Summer  abroad,  and  have  been  highly  Carressed. 
they  present  their  Comts.  to  all  their  Friends  at  Casco.  While 
you  was  in  Boston  I think  you  was  knowing  to  some  of  the 
difficulties]  I underwent  with  regard  to  a Lawsuit  my  Brothe[r] 
had  with  Bams  [ter].  I have  now  the  Pleasure  of  informing  you 
that  the  Tryall  Came  on  Last  Thursday  when  the  Case  was 
determind  fully  in  Mr  Copleys  favour.  The  Houses  at  Mount 
Pleasant  are  not  yet  finished.  My  Brother  expects  to  get  into 
one  of  them  the  Begining  of  next  Month.  Your  Friend  Mr. 
Hancock  drew  the  day  before  yesterday  1500  Dollars  the 
Highest  Prise  in  the  Present  Lottery,  he  had  seven  tickets; 
one  is  not  yet  drawn,  two  were  blancks,  the  other  four  p[r]ises. 
this  is  the  second  tim[e]  he  has  drawn  the  Highest  Prise.  By 
the  Papers  I suppose  you  have  seen  that  he  has  given  the 
most  generous  sum  of  750o£ 1 towards  rebuilding  Dr.  Coopers 
Mee[t]ing  house.  To  tell  you  that  We  have  had  a most  severe, 
Cold,  and  disagreabl[e]  Winter  will  be  telling  you  what  I fancy 
you  must  know  already.  Little  Cousin  Betzsey  is  very  well. 
Snap  has  behaved  himself  exceeding  well.  I have  not  time  to 
ad  further  at  present,  than  In  my  Mama’s  Name  and  for  my- 
self to  salute  you  wishing  you  Mrs.  Billings  and  Family  all 
Health  and  Happyness,  and  hoping  to  have  the  pleasure  of 
your  Company  in  the  Spring,  in  the  mean  Time  we  beg  that 
you  would  let  us  hear  frequently  from  you.  I am  Dear  Madam 
your  sincer[e]  Friend  and  Humble  Sert. 

H.  P. 

1 The  records  show  that  he  gave  £1000  and  a bell.  Lothrop,  History  of  the 
Church  in  Brattle  Street . 101. 


1772 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


185 


Mr.  Copley  and  Lady  present  their  best  respectjs]  to  you 
your  Sister  and  Family. 

We  are  exceeding  sorry  for  Mr.  Tyngs  very  considerable 
Loss. 


Isaac  Smith , Jr}  to  Copley 

[1772.]2 

Mr  Is.  Smith  jr.  presents  his  compliments  to  Mr  Copley, 
and  begs  leave  to  inform  him,  that  he  has  met  with  an  extract, 
whh.  he  made  from  Sir  C’s  letter  in  Anderson's  Hist,  and  Constit. 
of  Masonry  (as  it  was  not  his  own),  but  that  the  principal  cir- 
cumstance in  it  is  what  he  has  already  mentioned  to  Mr. 
Copley,  i.e.  with  regard  to  placing  a pulpit,  he  observes,  “ a 
moderate  voice  may  be  heard  50  feet  in  front,  30  on  each  side, 
and  20  behind  the  preacher.’’  Anderson’s  book  may  probably 
be  found  among  some  of  the  worshipful  fraternity  in  town. 


James  Bowdoin  to  Copley 

[1772.] 

Mr.  Bowdoin’s  respectful  Compliments  to  Mr  Copley. 

He  thinks  wth.  Mr.  Copley  the  Pilaster  cannot  be  objected 
to  on  account  of  its  prpjection  and  if  the  Comtee.  shd.  not  think 
the  Entablature  too  expensive,  it  probably  may  be  the  best 
Method  to  finish  the  Front:  concerning  wch.  Mr.  Copley  is  the 
best  judge. 

Monday  Eveng. 

1 Son  of  Isaac  Smith,  brother  of  Mrs.  John  Adams. 

2 Pelham  had  endorsed  this  note  48,  the  first  one  from  James  Bowdoin  which 
follows,  49,  and  the  extracts  from  the  Records  of  the  Church  in  Brattle  Square , 50. 
The  second  note  from  James  Bowdoin  has  no  endorsement. 


1 86 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1772 


[ James  Bozvdoin]  to  Copley 1 

Memo.  [1772] 

Mr.  Copley  will  please  to  delineate  on  the  Plan  eleven  Pews 
on  one  Side  of  the  Pulpit  and  ten  on  the  other;  all  of  an  equal 
width  viz:  3 feet  and  a little  more  than  3 Inches  each. 


The  Brattle  Street  Church 2 

At  a Meeting  of  the  Committee  for  rebuilding  the  Meeting 
House  in  Brattle  Street  June  nth,  1772.  Present,  the  Honble 
James  Bowdoin,  Esq.  Chairman,  the  Honble  James  Pitts,  Esq., 
the  Honble  John  Hancock,  Esq. 

Mr.  Smith  Mr.  Payne 

Mr.  Newell  Mr.  Brattle 

Mr.  Gray 

The  Committee  had  laid  before  them  the  plan  and  Elevation  of 
a Meeting  House,  with  the  Steple  compleat,  exhibited  by  Mr. 
Copeley,  which  was  much  admired  for  its  Elegance  and  Grandure; 
but  upon  making  an  Estimate  of  the  Expence  that  would  attend 
the  carrying  the  Design  into  Execution,  it  appeared  that  it  would 
much  exceed  the  Funds  the  Society  depended  on  for  the  purpose, 
and  for  that  Reason  it  was  laid  aside.  Whereupon,  a Motion  being 
made  and  seconded,  it  was  unanimously  Voted,  that  Mr  Storer  be 
desired  to  wait  upon  Mr.  Copeley  and  make  him  acquainted  there- 
with; at  the  same  Time  to  tender  him  the  Thanks  of  the  Commit- 
tee for  the  great  Pains  and  Trouble  he  had  been  at,  and  so  desire  he 
would  let  the  Committee  know  what  would  be  an  adequate  Com- 
pensation for  the  same. 

At  a Meeting  of  the  Committee  August  3rd,  1772,  Present  the 

1 This  note  is  in  the  same  handwriting  as  the  preceding  one. 

2 These  notes  are  not  printed  in  Records  of  the  Church  in  Brattle  Square. 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1772 


187 


Honble  James  Bowdoin,  Esq.,  Chairman  the  Honble  James 
Pitts,  Esq.,  the  Honble  John  Hancock,  Esq., 

Mr.  Smith  Mr.  Gray 

Mr.  Storer  Mr.  Payne 

Mr.  Newell  Mr.  Brattle 

The  Committe  being  informed  that  by  Reason  of  Mr.  Storer’s 
Absence  when  they  passed  upon  Mr.  Copeley’s  Plan  on  the  nth 
of  June,  he  was  not  so  fully  apprised  of  their  Determination,  there- 
fore Voted  unanimously,  that  Mr.  Storer,  together  with  Mr.  Gray, 
be  desired  to  wait  upon  Mr.  Copley  in  Person,  and  present  him 
with  a Copy  of  their  Vote  passed  the  nth  of  June  last,  and  to 
thank  him  in  the  name  of  the  Committee. 

A true  Copy,  as  of  Record,  Attest, 

Thomas  Gray,  Secretary  to  the  Committee, 


William  Carson  to  Copley 

Newport,  16th  Augt.,  1772. 

Mr.  Copely, 

Mrs.  Gibbes  and  Mrs.  Carson  are  arrived  in  that  good  health 
and  beauty  in  which  I wished  to  see  them.  The  longer  I look, 
the  better  I am  pleased.  I discover  new  beautys  every  day,  and 
what  was  considered  as  blemishes,  now,  raises  the  most  exalted 
Ideas  of  the  perfection  of  the  Painter  “ and  painting  to  the  life.” 
Mrs.  Carson’s  picture,  which  is  by  much  the  most  natural  and 
just  painting  I have  seen  of  yours,  only  shews,  what  you  are 
capable  of  executing.  Your  painting  of  the  Squirrel  was  a 
modest  production,  and  your  picture  of  Mrs.  Gray  in  Crayons 
could  only  testify,  that  in  Boston  there  was  one  fine  face,  and 
you,  a man  of  some  Genius.  Neither,  could  point  out  your 
Genius,  qualitys  or  perfections  as  a Painter.  You  are  unknown 


1 88 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1772 


to  the  world  and  yourself.  Rise  but  in  your  own  opinion,  and 
you  will  attempt  something  worthy  of  yourself,  and  then  every 
judge  will  bestow  on  you  that  applause  which  you  justly  merit. 
A painter  of  faces  gains  no  reputation  among  the  multitude,  but 
from  the  Characteristick  strokes  in  the  outlines.  Life  and  expres- 
sion require  judgement  and  knowledge.  You  really  are  and  ought 
to  consider  yourself  inferiour  to  no  Portrait  Painter  in  England. 

I doubt  much  if  there  is  your  superiour  in  Europe.  I use  the 
term  generally,  as  a Copier  of  nature,  from  any  object,  and  I 
consider  you  can  paint  a Horse,  Cow,  Squirrel  or  fly  as  justly 
as  a Man  or  woman  from  the  life.  Why  do  you  not  attempt  it? 
Strange  objects  strongly  strike  the  senses,  and  violent  passions 
affect  the  mind.  To  gain  reputation,  you  should  paint  some- 
thing new,  to  catch  the  sight  and  fix  the  attention. 

I must  think,  if  you  would  paint  such  a piece,  as  a Child  in 
the  Cradle,  sick.  — the  mother  applying  some  remedy,  her  face 
and  attitude  expressing  hope  and  fear,  a Sympathizing  nurse, 
officious  in  her  duty,  a Doctor  standing  by,  of  strong  features, 
and  wig  in  Character,  recommending  his  Nostrums  in  a Vial, 
Bolus,  or  box,  some  female  friend  looking  on  with  indifference. 
Contrasting  the  objects  — Suppose  your  wife  and  child,  the 
nurse  old  and  black  of  complexion,  the  Physician  long  visaged, 
covered  under  a hideous  wig,  pale  complexion  and  his  baird 
two  or  three  days  old,  and  such  a Young  Lady  looking  on,  eli- 
gantly  dressed,  as  the  youngest  Miss  Fitch;  all,  in  a bed  Cham- 
ber with  such  furniture  as  to  show  the  mother  and  child  of 
genteel  rank.  Such  you  could  copy  from  the  life  and  from  such 
paintings,  only,  will  your  merit  be  known.  Any  piece  of  that 
kind,  altho,  it  might  cost  you  time  and  trouble  will  gain  you 
more  money  and  reputation  than  all  you  can  get  by  face 
painting  in  Seven  years.  Send  such  a piece  home  before  you  go, 


I772 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


189 


it  will  be  the  best  recommendation  and  you  will  be  received 
there  with  Eclat.  Be  not  afraid  to  make  the  experiment,  for 
you  will  please  and  surprise  the  best  judges,  tho  you  may  not 
immediately  please  yourself.  You  ’ll  readily  forgive  me  for  my 
presumption  in  giving  advice,  knowing,  that  I mean  well, 
however  unqualified. 

I wish  to  hear  of  your  arrival  in  England;  in  the  mean  time 
would  be  glad  to  hear  from  you,  and  to  render  you  every  ser- 
vice in  my  power. 

I am,  Sir,  Your  sincere  friend  and  hum.  Servt. 

Wm.  Carson. 


Mrs.  Margaret  Mascarene  to  Henry  Pelham 

Salem,  Sept.  14th,  1772. 
Sir 

My  Sister  told  me  some  time  since  that  she  did  not  think  you 
would  be  able  to  take  a good  likeness  of  my  late  Father,  on  so 
small  a piece  of  Copper  as  I proposed  to  you.  I write  now  to  let 
you  know  that  I had  full  as  lives  have  it  on  a larger,  the  size 
enclosed  I think  a pretty  one,  I have  one  of  this,  that  looks  very 
well,  and  if  a glass  can  be  got  for  it  I should  prefer  it  to  a smaller, 
but  I submit  to  your  Judgement  in  the  Matter,  a likeness  is 
what  I want,  otherwise  the  picture  will  be  of  no  value  to  me, 
save  as  a piece  of  paint.  I was  in  hopes  to  have  seen  you  before 
this,  but  it  has  not  been  in  my  power.  I hope  it  will  be  finishd 
before  Cold  weather.  My  Complements  to  Mr.  Copely.  I 
am  with  regards  your  humble  Servant, 

Margarit  Mascarene.1 

1 Margaret,  daughter  of  Edward  Holyoke,  president  of  Harvard  College, 
married  John  Mascarene  (1722-1778),  comptroller  of  the  customs  in  1760.  He 
was  son  of  Jean  Paul  Mascarene  (1684-1760). 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


1772 


190 


Jonathan  Clarke  to  Copley 

London,  Deer.  20,  1772. 

Dear  Brother, 

I reed,  your  obliging  Letter  of  Nov.  8th,  the  subject  of  which 
is  so  important  that  you  ’ll  excuse  me  if  I put  you  to  the  charge 
of  some  shillgs  for  several  answers;  there  will  be  no  Vessell  sail 
from  hence  directly  to  Boston  in  less  than  two  Months  and 
having  heard  that  the  [Jany.]1  Pacqt.  is  detain’d  by  contrary 
winds,  I took  the  chance  of  sending  a Letter  to  Falmo.  last 
Evening  and  there  being  one  bound  to  So.  Cara.  I intend  this 
per  her,  as  its  probable  she  may  have  a good  passage  at  this 
time  of  year,  but  neither  of  those  conveyances  will  be  safe  eno’ 
for  Mr.  West  to  send  an  answer  to  your  Lettr.  to  him.  he  will 
write  you  by  the  Jany.  Pacquet,  and  if  this  should  come  to  hand 
first  let  me  acquaint  you,  thatMr.  West  approves  and  commends 
your  resolution  of  coming  to  Europe  and  confirms  the  advice 
given  you  by  Mr.  Palmer  as  to  going  first  to  Italy  in  one  of  our 
Fish  Vessells  to  Leghorn,  he  thinks  that  there  will  be  nothing 
in  England  that  will  require  you  to  take  this  in  your  way.  you 
may  depend  upon  the  most  friendly  and  disinterested  advice 
as  well  as  every  assistance  in  his  power  that  will  conduce  to 
make  your  travels  beneficial  and  agreeable  to  you.  for  this  end 
he  will  send  you  a Letter  to  a friend  of  his  at  Leghorn,  who  will 
give  you  Letters  to  the  other  places  you  pass  thro’,  you  will  also 
receive  from  him  a Lettr  to  a Gentleman  at  Rome  who  did  him 
eminint  services  and  who  will  be  happy  in  doing  the  same  for 
a friend  of  Mr.  West’s,  he  would  advise  you  to  tarry  some 
months  for  a good  conveyance  to  Leghorn  rather  than  to  take 
shipping  for  England,  as  it  will  save  you  a good  deal  of  trouble 

1 Erased. 


4 


I9I 


*77 2 Copley -Pelham  Letters 

and  some  expence.  Tho’  I think  this  last  article  need  not  deter 
your  comeing  this  way,  if  it  is  the  only  thing  that  will  influence 
your  bringing  Sister  with  you.  for  besides  your  expences  in 
London  which  will  depend  upon  the  time  you  tarry  here,  the 
charge  of  traveling  from  hence  to  Rome  will  be  about  30 
Guineas,  and  when  you  have  got  there  you’ll  find  it  a very 
cheap  Country,  you  and  your  wife  may  live  there  genteely  for 
about  one  hundred  pounds  per  Ann.  it  cost  Mr.  West  about 
that  Sum  and  he  had  a companion  much  less  agreable  and  he 
thinks  as  expensive  as  a wife,  I mean  sickness,  altho’  it  is  in 
general  a healthy  place,  except  in  the  fall  of  the  year  at  which 
time  you  will  go  to  visit  other  parts  of  Italy,  where  you  ’ll  meet 
with  entertainment  and  improvement,  but  Mr.  West  has  an 
objection  to  your  carrying  Mrs.  Copley  to  Italy  with  you,  and 
that  is  the  attention  so  good  a wife  will  require  from  so  good  a 
Husband,  and  which  it’s  probable  will  be  so  much  as  to  retard 
you  in  the  pursuit  of  the  grand  object,  he  says  the  eighteen 
Months  or  two  years  that  he  supposes  you  to  be  in  Rome  will 
be  the  most  important  period  of  your  life,  and  will  require  a 
constant  application,  and  perhaps  your  having  a Lady  with 
you  will  oblige  you  to  cultivate  such  acquaintance  in  order 
to  make  it  agreeable  to  her  as  will  not  be  necessary  on  any  other 
acct,  or  such  as  you  yrould  not  if  you  were  alone,  for  these 
reasons  it  seems  to  be  his  opinion  that  you  had  better  go  alone, 
perhaps  Mr.  West  does  not  know  what  little  trouble  your  wife 
will  be.  but  however  from  him  you  will  have  a particular 
answer  to  your  inquirys.  When  I first  came  to  England  I met 
with  Mr.  Hale1  our  former  Collector,  who  I found  was  a friend 
of  your’s,  and  who  spake  highly  of  your  Pictures  and  much 
encouraged  your  comeing  to  England,  not  doubting  that  you 

> 1 Roger  Hale. 


192 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1772 


would  meet  with  the  greatest  encouragement  in  this  place 
where  every  thing  gives  way  to  the  gratification  of  peoples 
fancy.  When  I came  to  London,  I found  Mr.  West  a great 
admirer  of  your  Portraits,  you  seem  to  think  by  your  Lettr  to 
him  that  the  one  you  last  exhibited  was  not  esteemed  so  good  a 
one,  but  Mr.  West  thinks  you  was  under  a mistake,  for  Mrs. 
Gage’s  Picture  was  tho’t  a very  fine  one.  only  some  of  her 
friends  who  had  never  seen  her  tho’t  it  was  not  like,  because 
she  had  been  represented  as  very  handsome.  Mr.  West  thinks 
you  have  a very  good  adviser  in  Mr.  Palmer,  as  much  so  as  if 
he  was  a great  artist  himself,  he  is  spoke  of  with  the  highest 
respect,  as  having  employed  his  time  and  money  very  judi- 
ciously, and  whose  improvement  has  been  great  and  made  him 
very  ornamental  to  his  Country,  all  the  objection  we  can  have 
to  our  friends  traveling  is  that  after  they  have  been  some  time 
abroard  and  much  improved  themselves,  and  been  used  to  the 
society  of  Men  of  Literature  and  attached  to  the  polite  arts, 
upon  their  return  they  find  our  young  Country  don’t  furnish  a 
great  number  of  the  same  relish  and  therefore  are  obliged  to 
seek  them  in  older  Countrys  where  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose 
they  more  abound,  so  that  our  Country  is  check’d  in  its  im- 
provement. now  I hope  better  things  of  you,  than  a disposition 
which  is  rather  selfish.  I hope  Mr.  Palmer  will  be  so  attached 
to  his  native  Country  as  to  settle  there.  Mr.  West  acquaints  me 
that  a Lettr.  is  about  16  days  traveling  from  Rome,  so  that  if  you 
should  leave  Mrs.  Copley  at  Boston  she  may  hearfromyou  as  fre- 
quent as  if  you  was  in  England,  if  there’s  no  fault  on  your  part. 

If  my  discription  of  Manchester,  etc.  give  you  any  pleasure 
I am  glad  and  I would  willingly  increase  it  by  adding  that  of 
Londo[n],  but  its  magnificence  and  grandeaur  discourage  all 
attempts  of  that  sort.  I lodge  in  St.  Paul’s  Church  yard  where 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


I93 


I have  an  opporty.  to  observe  tho’  not  sufficiently  to  admire 
that  grand  and  elegant  Pile. 

I am  glad  to  observe  the  progress  you  have  made  in  finish- 
ing the  Buildings,  which  you  ’ll  wish  you  had  not  began  before 
you  had  seen  those  in  Europe  as  you  have  now  a prospect  of  it : 
tho’  perhaps  it  will  make  one  more  attachment  to  your  native 
Country. 

It  will  not  be  agreeable  after  having  lived  in  Rome  for  about 
£100  to  come  into  this  Country  to  spend  five,  for  Mr.  West 
says  it  bears  that 
proportion;  but 
you’ll  doubtless 
consider  that  the 
more  you  save 
there  the  more 
you ’ll  be  enabled 
to  spend  here;  for  here  money  will  go  and  you  Sons  of  Liberty 
will  find  some  times  without  your  consent.  I am  glad  to  find 
Sukey  and  your  little  family  are  well,  give  my  love  to  them, 
and,  Dr.  Sir,  pray  accept  of  my  hearty  wishes  for  your  health 
and  happiness  as  well  as  success  in  all  your  enterprizes. 

Please  to  give  my  Duty  to  Papa.  I was  favor’d  with  hisLettr: 
per  Capt.  Calef.  I shall  write  him  per  Jany.  Pacqt.  my  Duty 
and  love  to  all  and  believe  me  to  be,  Your  affectio.  Brother, 

Jona.  Clarke. 

P . S.  2 2d : the  weather  has  been  very  fine  from  my  first  arrival 
in  England  till  this  day  which  is  the  darkest  I ever  saw. 

Endorsed : Charlestown,  4th  March.  Reed,  under  cover  and 
forwarded  by  your  most  Humb  Servt., 


Nathl.  Russell. 


194 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1773 


Benjamin  West  to  Copley 

Dear  Sir, 

Some  days  past  Your  Brother  Mr.  Clark  delivered  into  my 
hands  your  letter  of  the  8th  of  Novr.,  Which  informed  me  of 
your  intended  Tour  into  Italy,  and  the  desier  you  express’d  of 
receiveing  my  Opinion  on  that  Subject.  I am  still  of  the  opinion 
the  going  to  Italy  must  be  of  the  greatest  advantage  to  one 
advanced  in  the  arts  as  you  are,  As  by  that  you  will  find  what 
you  are  already  in  possession  of,  and  what  you  have  to  acquier. 

As  your  jurney  to  Italy  is  reather  to  finish  a studye  then  to 
begin  one;  Your  stay  in  that  country  will  not  requier  that  length 
of  time  that  would  be  necessery  for  an  Artist  less  advanced  in 
the  Arts  then  you  are;  But  I would  have  that  time  as  uninter- 
rupted as  possible.  And  for  this  reason  I would  have  you  make 
this  Tour  without  Mrs.  Copley.  Not  that  she  would  be  of  any 
great  aditional  expance,  But  would  reather  bring  you  into  a 
mode  of  liveing  that  would  throw  you  out  of  your  Studyes.  So 
my  Advice  is,  Mrs.  Copley  to  remain  in  Boston  till  you  have 
made  this  Tour,  After  which,  if  you  fix  your  place  of  reasidanc 
in  London,  Mrs.  Copley  to  come  over. 

In  regard  to  your  studyes  in  Italy  my  advice  is  as  follows: 
That  you  pursue  the  higher  Exalances  in  the  Art,  and  for  the 
obtaining  of  which  I recommend  to  your  attention  the  works  of 
the  Antiant  Statuarys , Raphael , Michal  Angilo , Corragio,  and 
Titian , as  the  Sorce  from  whance  true  tast  in  the  arts  have 
flow’d.  There  ware  a number  of  great  artist  in  Italy  besides 
thoss,  But  as  they  somewhat  formd  their  manner  in  paint  from 
the  above  artists,  they  are  but  second  place  painters.  The 
works  of  the  Antient  Statuarys  are  the  great  original  whare  in 
the  various  charectors  of  nature  are  finely  represented,  from 


1 8 17  Copley -Pelham  Letters  195 


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196  Copley -Pelham  Letters  1773 

the  soundest  principles  of  Philosophi.  What  they  have  done 
in  Statuary,  Raphael,  seems  to  have  acquiered  in  painting.  In 
him  you  see  the  fine  fancey  in  the  arraignment  of  his  figures 
into  groops,  and  those  groops  into  a whole  with  that  propriety 
and  fitness  to  his  subject,  Joynd  to  a trouth  of  charector  and 
expression,  that  was  never  surpass’d  before  nor  sence.  Michal 
Angilo  in  the  knowledge  and  graundor  of  the  Human  figure 
has  surpass’d  all  artists,  his  figures  have  the  apearance  of  a new 
creation,  form’d  by  the  strength  of  his  great  amagination.  in 
him  you  find  all  that  is  great  in  design.  Corragio,  whose  obscu- 
rety  in  life  deprived  him  of  those  aids  in  the  art  which  Michal 
Angilo  and  Raphael  had,1  and  which  prevented  his  acquiering 
those  Exalances,  which  so  charectoris’d  them.  But  there  are 
other  beuties  in  the  art  he  greatly  surpass’d  even  those  in  and 
all  others  that  came  after  him.  Which  was  in  the  relieaf  of  his 
figures  by  the  management  of  the  clear  obscure.  The  prodigi- 
ous management  in  foreshortningof  figures  seen  in  the  air,  The 
greacefull  smiles  and  turnes  of  heads,  The  magickcal  uniteing 
of  his  Tints,  The  incensable  blending  of  lights  into  Shades,  and 
the  beautyfull  affect  over  the  whole  arrising  from  thoss  pices 
of  management,  is  what  charmes  the  eye  of  every  beholder. 
Titian  gave  the  Human  figure  that  trouth  of  colour  which  sur- 
pass’d all  other  painters.  His  portraits  have  a particuler  air  of 
grandour  and  a solidity  of  colouring  in  them  that  makes  all 
other  portraits  appear  trifling.  I recommend  to  your  attention 
when  in  Italy  the  workes  of  the  above  artists,  as  every  perfec- 
tion in  the  art  of  painting  is  to  be  found  in  one  or  another  of 
their  works.  I likewise  recommend  your  going  directly  to  Italy 
by  sea  as  that  will  carry  you  through  in  one  voyage  if  you  land 
in  England  first  you  will  have  to  traval  the  Continant  twice. 

1 The  antique  statues.  [Wests  note.] 


*773 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


197 


I have  not  time,  by  this  oppertunity  to  write  your  letters  of 
recommendation,  but  another  will  offer  in  a few  days  when 
Mr.  Clark  has  undertaken  to  send  them. 

The  Honor  your  workes  have  allways  done  you  in  Our 
Exhibitions  is  the  very  reason  you  should  perservear  in  the 
Tour  to  Italy,  the  portrait  of  Mrs.  Gage  as  a picture  has 
received  every  praise  from  the  lovers  of  arts,  her  Friends  did 
not  think  the  likeness  so  favourable  as  they  could  wish,  but 
Honour’d  it  as  a pice  of  art.  Sir  Joshua  Reynold  and  other 
artists  of  distinguished  merrit  have  the  Highest  esteem  for 
you  and  your  works. 

I Wish  you  all  Happyness  and  success,  and  am  with  great 
Friendship  Your  Obedt.  Humble  Sert. 

Benjn.  West. 

London,  Jany.  6th,  1773. 

Benjamin  Andrews  to  Henry  Pelham 

Mr.  Andrews  presents  his  Compliments  to  Mr.  Pelham,  and 
would  be  greatly  obliged  if  he  could  finish  his  picture  in  season 
to  be  brought  home  by  Saterday;  as  Mrs.  A,  agreeable  to  cus- 
tom, expects  much  company  next  week,  and  would  be  glad  to 
have  our  vacant  frames  occupied. 

The  reason  of  this  request  is,  on  account  of  some  Alteration 
in  the  Landskip  which  Mr.  Copely  said  Mr.  Pelham  was  to 
make;  excepting  which,  Mr.  A’s  picture  was  done,  and  Mrs. 
A’s  has  been  finish’d  some  time. 

Monday  p.m.  March,  1773. 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1773 


198 


Henry  Pelham  to  John  Singleton 

Boston,  August  3d,  1773. 

Dear  and  Honored  Uncle, 

The  difficulty  of  Conveying  a Letter  to  Ireland  perticularly 
to  that  part  where  you  reside  has  hitherto  prevented  my 
tendering  you  those  marks  of  my  Duty  esteem  and  affection 
which  the  distance  between  us  will  permitt  and  the  duty  I owe 
to  the  Brother  of  an  honored  and  most  excellent  Parent 
demands.  But  a Gentleman  Mr.  Auch[mut]y  going  immediatly 
to  Dublin  affords  me  an  opertunity  of  presenting  myself  with 
my  most  affectionate  duty  before  you,  as  a Nephew  who  is 
exceedingly  solicitous  of  obtaining  your  favour  and  Corespond- 
ence.  My  honored  Mamma  has  been  (as  well  as  myself  and  My 
Brother  Copley)  very  an[x]ious  at  Not  hearing  from  you  for 
near  four  years  past.  Indeed  within  that  time  Brother  Copley 
had  one  Letter  from  Aunt  Cooper  by  which  we  had  the  inex- 
pressable  pleasure  of  hearing  that  all  our  Friends  in  Ireland  were 
well.  Distance  of  Place  and  length  of  time  has  not  in  the  least 
abated  that  affectionate  Concern  she  alwa[y]s  entertained  for 
a Friend  so  near  and  dear  to  her  and  for  whom  she  expresses 
the  most  affectionate  and  tender  Regard.  For  my  self  I can 
most  truly  say,  that,  till  I can  have  the  pleasure]  of  seeing  my 
dear  Fri[e]nds  in  Irel[a]n[d]  and  it  would  be  my  greatest  happy- 
ness  to  cultivate  even  that  imperfect  acquaintance  which  dis- 
tance of  Place  only  permitts  by  a regular  Corespondence.1 
H[e]  proposes  this  fall  or  the  next  spring  at  farthest  upon  the 
recommendation  of  his  numerouse  Fri[e]nds  both  in  Europ  and 


1 What  precedes  and  what  follows  were  two  widely  separatee  fragments. 
There  is  nothing  to  show  that  they  belong  together  except  the  context  and  the 
marked  similarity  in  the  appearance  of  the  handwriting. 


1773 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


199 


America  to  make  the  tour  of  Italy  France  and  England.  When 
he  arr[i]ves  he  intends  if  possable  to  take  a turn  over  and 
see  you  and  his  other  F[r]i[e]nds  in  Ireland.  I intended  to 
have  given  you  a Larger  and  more  perticular  Account,  but  not 
knowing  of  this  Opertunity  of  writing  till  a few  hours  ago,  and 
the  Gentleman  who  favours  me  by  taking  the  care  of  this  setting 
out  before  Sun  Rise  tomorrow  morning  for  Portsmouth,  where 
the  post  Vessell  sails  from,  obliges  me  by  shortining  this  Let- 
ter to  lessen  the  pleasure  I take  in  thus  imperfectly  convers- 
ing with  you,  a pleasure  which  I propose  resuming  the  very 
fi[r]st  opertunity  I can  get  to  convey  a Letter  to  you,  and 
my  other  Friends,  but  before  I conclude  this  I am  to  present 
My  Mamma’s  most  tender  and  affectionate]  Love  with  My 
Brother  and  our  most  affectio[nate]  regards  [to]  you,  My  dear 
Aunt  Singleton,  Uncle  and  Aunt  Cooper,  and  all  our  dear 
Cousins,  and  permitt  me  to  join  them  in  most  Earnest  En- 
treaties that  you  would  write  and  give  us  a perticular  Account 
of  your  and  my  Aunt  Cooper’s  family.  Requesting  your 
Blessing  I conclude  Wishing  you  and  connections  all  Health 
and  Happyness  by  subscribing  myself  your  Most  Dutifull 
Nephew  and  most  Humble  Sert. 

Henry  Pelham. 


Henry  Pelham  to  [Stephen  Hooper ] 

Boston,  Septmr.  9th,  1773. 
Sir, 

Agreable  to  your  directions  I have  done  your  portrait  in 
Minature  and  have  had  it  sett  in  Gold.1 

1 A fragment. 


200 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1773 


Stephen  Hooper 1 to  Henry  Pelham 

Newbury  Port,  19th  Sept.,  1773. 
Sir 

Your  Letter,  dated  the  9th  Instant,  I did  not  receive  untill 
last  Evening;  wherein  I find  you  had  compleated  my  Portrait 
in  Miniature,  and  that  it  was  ready  to  be  delivered  to  my  Order; 
for  which  I am  obliged;  and  now  enclose  you  an  Order  on  Coll. 
Snelling,  for  the  Amount,  and  should  be  obliged  you  ’ll  deliver 
the  same  to  him,  to  be  forwarded.  I could  wish  Our  Friend 
Mr.  Copely,  had  made  equal  Dispatch  with  Mrs.  Hoopers2 
Picture,  as  we  want  it  much;  however,  I suppose  him  much 
hurried,  as  I hear  he  has  engaged  his  Passage,  but  hope  he’ll 
finish  it  ere  he  leaves  his  Native  Place;  Mrs.  Hooper  joins  me, 
in  our  respectfull  Compliments  to  him,  his  Lady  and  yourself; 
and  believe  me  to  be  Your  Friend, 

Stephen  Hooper. 


Henry  Pelham  to  Charles  Pelham 

Boston,  Novr.  5,  1 773. 

My  dear  Brother, 

Amidst  the  Noise  and  disturbance  of  a turbulant  and  factious 
town  it  is  with  pleasure  that  I contemplate  those  of  my  Friends, 
who  far  removed  from  all  the  busy  Sceanes  arising  from  the 
Ambition,  the  Envy  and  the  Vices  of  Mankind,  have  opertunity 
and  Leasure  calmly  to  enjoy  the  rational  Delights  of  a Country 
Life,  where  uninterrupted  by  the  Idle  and  the  vicious,  an 
universal  Freedom  reigns  and  social  Happyness  and  Domestic 
Felicity  are  only  to  be  found  in  perfection.  The  transactions 

1 See  Currier,  History  cf  Newbury  port,  n.  193.  2 Sarah  Woodbridge. 


1773 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


201 


around  me  for  several  days  past  makes  me  wish1  to  taist  the 
Happyness  of  that  retired  Life  which  I always  pleased  my  self 
with  the  Hopes  of  being  able  at  some  future  Pe[r]iod  to  obtain. 

The  various  and  discordant  Noises  with  which  my  Ears  are 
continually  assaild  in  the  day,  [the]  passing  of  Carts  and  a 
constant  throng  of  People,  the  shouting  of  an  undis[c]iplined 
Rabble  the  ringing  of  bells  and  sounding  of  Horns  in  the  night 
when  it  might  be  expected  that  an  universal  silence  should 
reign,  and  all  nature  weary  with  the  toils  of  the  day,  should  be 
composed  to  rest,  but  inste[a]d  of  that  nothing  but  a confused 
medley  of  the  ratlings  of  Carriages,  the  noises  of  Pope  Drums 
and  the  infernal  yell2  of  those  who  are  fighting  for  the  posses- 
sions of  the  Devill.  the  empty  Noise,  useless  Hurry  imperti- 
nence and  Ceremony  attendant  upon  a town  Life  are  a perfect 
contrast  to  the  felicity  of  a rural  retreat,  which  Pliny  elegantly 
discribes.  There,  says  he,  I hear  nothing  that  I repent  to  have 
listened  to.  I say  nothing,  that  I repent  to  have  uttered.  No 
person  under  my  Roof  vents  any  Scandal.  No  hopes  deceive 
me.  No  fears  molest  me;  no  Rumours  disturbs  me.  My  book 
and  my  thoughts  are  the  only  companions  with  whom  I con- 
verse. Welcome  thou  life  of  I[n]tegrity  and  Virtue!  Welcome 
sweet  and  innocent  Amusement ! I am  Led  to  these  thoughts 
and  these  Wishes  by  tjie  very  disagreable  situation  of  this  Town 
in  general  and  some  of  My  Friends  in  perticular.  I have  been 
several  days  attentively  observing  the  movements  of  our  Son’s 
of  Liberty,  which  was  wonce  (like  the  word  Tyrant)  an  honor- 
able distinction.  A short  Sketch  of  their  procedings  may  not 
be  disagreable  as  nothing  in  the  Papers  is  to  be  depended 

1 This  was  first  written:  “almost  makes  me  wish  myself  upon  some  Desert 
Island.” 

2 Erased:  “of  the  Children  of  Satan.” 


202 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


I773 


[upon.]  Last  tuesday  Morng.  a considerable  Number  of  Printed 
papers  was  pasted  up,  directed  to  the  freemen  of  the  Province 
inviting  them  to  meet  at  Liberty  Tree  at  12  oClock  the  next 
day  to  receive  the  resignation  upon  Oath  of  those  Gentle’n  to 
whom  the  India  Company  have  consigned  their  Tea  of  their 
Commission  and  their  promise  of  reshiping  it  by  the  first  oper- 
tunity.  The  above  handbills  were  signed  O.  C.  sec’y.  The  next 
morn’g  incendiary  Letters  were  sent  at  2 oClock  to  those 
gen[t]ln.  sign’d  O.  C.  sec’y,  commanding  upon  their  Perril 
their  attendance  at  12  oClock  at  Liberty  Tree.  This  summons 
the  Gentlemen  took  no  other  notice  of  than  by  assembling 
at  Mr.  Clark’s1  Store,  where  a considerable  Number  of  their 
Friends  mett  them.  A little  before  one  o Clock,  a Committee 
consisting  among  others  of  Mr.  [William]  Molineux,  Wm. 
Denny,  [Gabriel]  Johonnott,  Henderson,  Drs.  [Joseph]  Warren 
and  I think  [Benjamin]  Church  came  down  (attended  by  the 
whole  body,  consisting  of  about  300  People)  with  a Message  in 
which  [incomplete]2 

Thomas  Palmer 3 to  Copley 

Mr.  Palmer  presents  his  Compliments  to  Mr.  Copley,  and 
sends  him  two  Letters  wch  he  beleives  will  answer  his  Purpose 
in  Italy.  He  wishes  him  success,  and  cannot  but  say  he  wishes 
him  gone. 

Tuesd  Morning. 

1 Richard  Clarke  and  Sons. 

2 See  2 Proceedings , x.  79.  The  story  of  the  notice  served  on  Richard  Clarke, 
November  1,  is  told  in  Stark,  Loyalists  of  Massachusetts , 405.  A reply  pre- 
pared by  the  merchants  is  reproduced  from  a copy  in  the  Massachusetts  His- 
torical Society. 

3 Thomas  Palmer  (1743-1820),  a loyalist,  died  in  London.  He  left  his  library 
to  Harvard  University. 


TRADESMENS 

PROTEST 

AGAINST  THE 

PROCEEDINGS 

OF  THE 

MERCHANTS. 

Relative  to  the  New  IMPORTATION  of  TEA. 

Addrefted  to  the  Tradesmen  arid  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  and  Province  in 
general,  but  to  the  TRADESMEN  of  BOSTON  in  particular. 

tt*  AVOID  THE  TRAP.  Remember  the  iniquitous  Non- Importation  Scheme.  43} 

I.  That  the  prefent  propofed  Meet- 
ing is  illegal  and  underhanded  j and  as' 
it  is  otfr  humble  Opinion  that  it  is  fub- 
verfive  of  that  Constitutional  LI- 
BERTY we  arc  contending  for,-  and 
that  fuch  Proceedings  will  tend  to  cre- 
ate Difordcr  and  Tumult  in  the  Town, 
it  is  earneftly  wifhed  every  well-difpofed 
Member  of  the  Community  would  life 
his  Endeavors  to  prevent  them  in'  fu- 
ture. 

II-  That  the  Method  of  notifying 
faid  Meeting  is  mean  and  defpicable,  and 
fmeils  of  Dnt kn/fs  and  Deceit , as  the  No- 
tification for  Warning  the  fame  was  not 
figned,  and  was  polled  in  the  Night. 

III.  W’f.  are  rcfolved,  by  Divine  AC- 
finance,  to  walk  uprightly,  and  to  eat, 
drink,  and  wear  whatever  we  can  ho- 
neJUy  procure  by  our  Labour  ; and  to 
Buy  and  Sell  when  and  where  we  pleafe  ; 
herein  hoping  for  the  Protection  of  good 
Government  r Then  let  the  Bellowing 
PATRIOT  throw  out  his  thundering 
Bulls,  they  will  only  ferve  to  footh  oul* 
Sleep.' 

The  True  SONS  OF  LIBERTY- 
Printed  by  E.  Russell,  next  the  Cor  of  eld,  Union-Rrcet. 


BOSTON,  Nov.  3,  1773 

WHEREAS  we  have  repeatedly 
been  impofed  upon  by  the  Mer- 
chants of  the  Town  of  Boston,  arid 
thereby  jricurred  heavy  Taxes  upon  us, 
snd  we  Rand  unjuRly  charged  with  the' 
blame  : Ar.d  as  it  is  now  propofed 
by  faid  Merchants  to  prevent  the  Im- 
portation of  Tea  from  the  India  Com- 
pany, whereby  that  Article  may  be  fold 
for  lefs  than  half  the  Price  they  can  af- 
ford it  ; who  now  call  for  our  Atten- 
dance for  that  Purpofe  at  Liberty-Tree* 
You  arc  hereby,  advifed  and  warned  by 
tio  means  to  b&  taken  in  by  the  deceit- 
ful Bait  of  thofe  who  falfely  Rile  thern- 
felves  Friends  of  Liberty:  • 

THE 

PROTEST. 

We  the  TRADESMEN  of  the 
Town  of  BOSTON  therefore  PRO- 
TEST againft  faid  Meeting  in  the 
following  Manner,  Viz, 


204 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


*773 


Thomas  Palmer  to  James  Byers 1 

Boston,  Novr.  ioth,  1773. 

Dear  Sir, 

This  will  be  deliver’d  you  by  Mr.  John  Singleton  Copley,  who 
proposes  spending  a year  or  two  in  Italy,  to  improve  himself  in  his 
Profession  as  a Painter.  His  Character  as  a Gentleman  is  unex- 
ceptionable, as  an  Artist,  you  will  soon  discover  his  Merit  I have 
advis’d  him  to  spend  the  most  of  his  time  at  Rome,  and  I hope 
you  ’ll  be  so  obliging  as  to  introduce  him  to  some  of  his  Brethren 
in  the  Arts.  I am  with  great  Regard  your  Friend  and  humb.  Servt. 

Thos.  Palmer. 


Au  Chevalier  Hamilton  Bart.2  ministre  Plenipotentitiare  de  sa 
majeste  Brittanique  a Naples 

Your  known  Love  for  the  Polite  Arts,  and  the  Encouragement 
and  Countenance  you  give  their  Professors  emboldens  me  to 
recommend  to  your  Protection  the  Bearer  of  this,  Mr.  Copley,  as 
a person  of  very  great  Merit,  he  was  born,  and  has  been  bred 
entirely  among  us,  and  for  what  knowledge  he  has  acquired  in  his 
Profession,  he  is  indebted  to  the  force  of  his  own  Genius  only;  I 
beleive  he  has  never  seen  a good  Picture  but  of  his  own  painting. 
His  Character  as  a Gentleman  is  unexceptionable,  as  an  Artist 
I trust  his  works  will  very  soon  speak  for  him.  I hope,  Sir,  you  ’ll 
excuse  the  Liberty  I take  with  you. 

Present  my  best  Regards  to  Lady  Hamilton  and  beleive  me  to 
be  with  the  greatest  Respect  your  much  oblig’d,  and  most  humble 
Servant, 

Thos.  Palmer. 

Boston,  Novr.,  1773. 

1 See  Dictionary  of  National  Biography , vm.  no.  Now  an  architect  at  Rome. 

2 Sir  William  Hamilton  (1730-1803). 


1773 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


205 


Dr.  John  Morgan 1 to  Copley 

Philadelphia,  November  24,  1773. 
Sir, 

At  the  request  of  my  particular  friend  Mr.  Mifflin  and  of  my 
Brother  in  law  Mr.  Stillman,  I have  taken  the  Liberty  of  writ- 
ing a few  Letters  to  some  of  my  former  friends  in  Italy,  where 
I with  pleasure  learn  you  are  going  for  the  sake  of  endeavouring 
to  make  further  Improvements  in  your  profession.  I hope  these 
Letters  may  be  of  use  to  you.  I have  delivered  them  to  Mr. 
Mifflin  to  forward  to  you.  If  you  approve  of  delivering  them,  be 
pleased  first  to  seal  them.  If  not,  you  will  be  so  kind  as  to 
destroy  them. 

That  you  may  be  enabled  to  form  some  Judgment  how  far 
they  may  be  of  use  to  you,  it  will  be  proper  to  acquaint  You 
with  the  Characters  of  the  several  Gentlemen  to  whom  they 
are  written,  and  to  explain  on  what  footing  they  may  be  ser- 
viceable. Mr.  Rutherfoord  was  a considerable  Merchant  at 
Leghorn,  a Man  of  great  Worth  and  politeness,  and  particu- 
larly civil  to  his  Countrymen,  the  English.  He  can  introduce 
you  to  Sir  John  Dick,  Consul  at  Leghorn,  and  either  by  himself 
or  friends  procure  you  an  Introduction  to  Sir  Horace  Man,  the 
British  Resident  at  Florence,  which  will  be  of  great  Use  in 
obtaining  easy  Access'  at  all  proper  times,  to  the  Gallery  of 
Paintings  there,  which  contains  one  of  the  grandest  Collections 
in  Europe.  Mr.  Byers  was  bred  to  Painting,  and  reckoned  a 
Connoisseur  in  Painting,  Statuary,  Sculpture,  and  very  oblig- 
ing in  the  charge  he  undertook  of  conducting  Strangers  to  visit 
whatever  was  deemed  curious  and  worthy  of  Observation  in  or 
about  Rome,  and  in  explaining  the  History  of  what  he  shewed. 

1 1 See  Journal  of  Dr.  John  Morgan,  of  Philadelphia,  from  Rome  to  London,  1764. 


206 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


l77  3 


The  Abbey  Grant  was  a Scotch  Gentleman  who,  having  fol- 
lowed the  Fortunes  of  James  to  Rome,  resided  there.  He  was 
much  esteemed  by  the  English,  and  procured  Access  for  the 
party  I was  with  to  Persons  of  the  first  Distinction  at  Rome. 

Mr.  Jamineau,  the  British  Consul  at  Naples,  was  very 
friendly  to  me,  during  my  Stay  at  Naples,  and  has  since  hon- 
oured me  with  his  Correspondence.  His  Patronage  was  I be- 
leive  of  use  to  Mr.  West,  and  to  Signora  Angelica.1  From  his 
particular  situation  and  disposition  to  please,  I should  think 
he  might  prove  a valuable  Acquaintance  to  you,  in  a great 
Variety  of  ways. 

I wish  you  success  equal  to  your  warmest  Expectations,  and 
still  greater,  equal  to  the  Opinion  I have  of  your  great  Merit. 
Tho’  personally  unknown  to  you,  I am,  Sir,  with  great  Regard 
Your  most  obedient  and  very  humble  Servant, 

John  Morgan. 

Dr.  John  Morgan  to  Mr.  Rutherfoord , Esqr. 

Philadelphia,  November  24,  1773. 

Sir, 

I did  myself  the  Honour  of  writing  to  you  a few  Months  ago  in 
favour  of  Mr.  Bingham2  a young  Gentleman  of  this  City,  who 
purposed  to  pay  a Visit  to  Leghorn,  in  his  Way  to  see  some  parts 
of  Italy.  I now  take  the  Liberty  of  introducing  to  your  Acquaint- 
ance the  Bearer  Mr.  Copley,  who  goes  over  to  Italy  for  improve- 
ment in  the  Art  of  Painting.  He  is  a Gentleman  of  exceeding  good 
Character,  and,  without  a Master,  or  Oppertunity  of  seeing  the 
works  of  eminent  Artists,  has  himself  become  highly  eminent  for 
his  Skill  in  Painting. 

I am  perswaded  there  are  many,  who  after  all  the  improvements 
they  have  made  from  being  conversant  with  the  Works  of  the  first 

1 Angelica  Kauffman.  2 William  Bingham. 


1773 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


207 


Masters  in  the  World,  when  they  leave  Italy  are  not  equal  to  Mr. 
Copley,  at  his  first  entering  upon  the  study  of  those  same  Masters. 

Depending  on  your  great  politeness  to  myself,  and  your  known 
readiness  to  oblige  Strangers  of  Worth,  I doubt  not  but  the  liberty 
I have  taken  of  recommending  Mr.  Copley  to  your  Acquaintance 
will  be  taken  in  good  part,  and  that  you  will  have  a pleasure  in 
rendering  him  all  the  good  Offices  in  your  Power,  by  giving  him 
advice  how  to  proceed,  and  introducing  him  to  such  Gentlemen  as 
may  be  most  likely  to  have  it  in  their  Power  to  Promote  the  design 
of  his  coming. 

With  assurances  of  my  great  Esteem,  I remain  Dr.  Sir  Your 
much  obliged  and  most  obedient  humble  Servant, 

John  Morgan. 

Dr.  John  Morgan  to  Mr.  Byers 

Philadelphia,  Novembr.  24,  1773. 

Sir, 

I make  no  other  Apology  for  the  Liberty  I now  take  of  introduc- 
ing the  Bearer  Mr.  Copley  to  your  Acquaintance  than  to  say  the 
knowledge  I have  of  your  desire  to  cultivate  a friendly  Intercourse 
with  worthy  Artists,  and  to  shew  every  Civility  in  your  power  to 
Strangers  that  go  to  Rome  for  their  Improvement,  makes  me 
think  you  will  be  pleased  with  it.  He  is,  I durst  say,  already  known 
to  you  by  report,  as  you  are  not  ignorant  of  those  who  have  ex- 
celled in  the  Art,  or  of  the  Works  of  those  who  have  gained  a 
reputation  by  their  Exhibitions  of  Painting  at  Spring  Garden.  Be 
that  as  it  may,  Mr.  Copley  is  generally  esteemed  here  to  be  the 
best  Painter  that  has  ever  performed  in  America,  without  except- 
ing our  American  Raphael,  as  I have  often  heard  Mr.  West  called, 
if  we  confine  his  Character  to  the  Period  of  his  being  in  America. 
Without  other  means  of  Improvement  than  what  his  own  Genius 
has  furnished  Mr.  Copley  may  be  truly  allowed,  in  my  weak 
Opinion,  to  be  a Master  of  his  Art.  Yet  not  content  with  that  skill 
he  has  already  acquired  by  dint  of  his  Application  to  copy  nature, 
he  is  fired  with  the  laudable  Ambition  of  studying  the  Works  of 


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those  who  have  excelled  in  the  same  Employ,  to  discover  what 
Lights  they  have  struck  out,  and  to  avail  himself  of  their  Improve- 
ments, from  which  tis  to  be  hoped  he  will  derive  great  advantage. 

After  what  I have  said,  I need  not  use  many  Arguments  to  in- 
duce you  to  cultivate  an  Acquaintance  with  him,  and  to  shew  him 
every  Civility  in  your  Power. 

In  a visit  I lately  made  to  Charles  Town,  South  Carolina,  I saw 
Mr.  Bambridge,  who  is  settled  very  advantageously  there,  and 
prosecutes  his  Profession  with  Reputation  and  sucess. 

Your  Friend  Mr.  Powel 1 is  well.  With  great  Regard  I am,  Sir, 
Your  most  Obedient  and  Very  humble  Servant, 

John  Morgan. 

A Monsieur  U Abbe  Grant 2 

Philadelphia,  Novr.  24,  1773. 

Sir, 

Tis  now  a long  while  since  I did  myself  the  honour  of  writing  to 
you.  tis  much  longer  since  I have  had  the  honour  of  hearing  from 
you. 

The  Bearer  Mr.  Copley  intending  for  Italy  will  probably  see 
you.  Glad  am  I of  an  Oppertunity  of  introducing  him  to  your 
Acquaintance  as  an  Artist  in  Painting.  I put  him  on  the  same 
footing  with  my  Country  Man  Mr.  West,  in  which  I believe  it  will 
be  found  I have  not  disparaged  that  now  justly  celebrated  Painter. 

I think  it  an  Honour  to  America  that  such  an  illustrious  Pair 
have  been  produced  in  this  Country;  who  by  the  strength  of  their 
own  Genius,  and  without  the  assistance  of  able  Masters  have 
deservedly  acquired  Reputation  amongst  the  first  Rate  Painters 
in  the  Mother  Country. 

Mr.  West  has  already  enjoyed  the  benefit  of  improving  himself 
since  his  Genius  shone  forth,  in  the  Schools  of  Italy,  and  in  Study- 
ing the  best  Models,  and  works  of  the  first  Masters.  This  is  what 
Mr.  Copley  is  now  in  persuit  of.  Time  will  make  manifest  whether 

1 Samuel  Powel. 

2 Peter  Grant  ( d . 1784).  See  Dictionary  of  National  Biography , xxii.  400. 


1773 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


209 


he  is  as  capable  of  improving  those  advantages.  For  my  own  part 
I have  an  exalted  Opinion  of  his  Genius,  and  think  him  even 
superior  in  that  respect  to  some  of  those  whose  works  he  is  now 
gone  to  study,  tho’  I am  perswaded  his  Genius  will  receive  great 
helps  from  the  Works  of  Art,  those  almost  super-natural  Exhibi- 
tions to  be  met  with  in  Italy  of  Raphael,  Angelo,  Corregio,  Titian, 
Guido,  Dominicino,  Guerchino  and  others. 

I perswade  myself  you  will  be  much  pleased  with  Mr.  Cop- 
leys Acquaintance,  and  that  you  will  chearfully  assist  him,  as  far 
as  lays  in  your  power,  to  procure  Access  to  whatever  is  most 
worthy  of  his  Study,  Observation  or  Pursuit. 

I have  lately  been  on  a public  Mission  from  the  Trustees  of  the 
College  at  Philadelphia  to  Jamaica  to  extend  the  knowledge  of  this 
Institution,  and  the  advantages  it  may  be  of  to  such  of  the  youth 
whose  Parents  may  think  proper  to  send  them  here  for  education, 
and  to  procure  some  Assistance  towards  establishing  it  on  the 
most  extensive  and  permanent  foundation.  I was  there  but  about 
ten  Months,  in  which  time,  I procured  Subscriptions  for  carrying 
on  the  Design  to  the  amount  of  between  four  and  five  thousand 
pounds  sterling,  and  a Number  of  their  Children  are  since  come 
over  to  study  at  the  College  of  Philadelphia,  and  others  are  pre- 
paring to  follow. 

My  fellow  Traveller  Mr.  Powel  is  well  and  joins  me  in  the  warm- 
est Wishes  for  your  Wellfare.  I am  with  unfeigned  Regard,  Dr. 
Sir,  Your  much  obliged  Affectionate  Friend,  and  most  obedt. 
humble  Servt. 

• John  Morgan. 

Dr . John  Morgan  to  Isaac  Jamineau 

Philadelphia,  November  24,  1773. 
Sir, 

I did  myself  the  Honour  of  writing  to  you  about  four  months  ago 
by  Mr.  Bingham  from  this  place,  which  I hope  came  safe  to  hand. 
This  will  be  presented  to  you  by  Mr.  Copley  a very  celebrated 
Painter  from  Boston,  who  proposes  very  shortly  to  sail  for  Italy, 


2 10 


Copley  -Pelham  Letters 


1 773 


with  a View  of  improving  himself  in  that  art,  from  the  helps  that 
are  to  be  met  with  there,  and  from  studying  the  works  of  those 
immortal  Genii  who  have  shone  forth  so  illustriously  for  their  skill 
and  Imitation  of  Nature. 

Mr.  Copley  may  justly  be  looked  upon  as  the  greatest  Painter  we 
have  ever  yet  had  in  America.  I do  not  mean  to  except  Mr.  West, 
who  was  doubtless  far  short  of  Mr.  Copley  at  the  time  he  left 
America,  however  considerable  his  improvments  were  after  he 
had  the  advantage  of  Studying  in  Italy.  Perhaps  History  cannot 
furnish  a single  Instance  of  any  Person,  who  with  so  little  Assist- 
ance from  others,  and  so  few  Oppertunities  of  seeing  any  thing 
worth  studying  has  by  the  force  of  his  Genius  and  by  close  Appli- 
cation to  study  Nature,  arrived  to  such  preheminance  in  Painting 
as  Mr.  Copley. 

Although  I have  not  the  least  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Copley, 
nor  ever  seen  him  in  my  Life,  yet  from  some  paintings  I have  seen 
done  by  him,  and  Accounts  of  others  who  are  no  mean  Judges,  and 
have  seen  more  of  his  performances,  as  well  as  from  his  excellent 
moral  Character,  I am  perswaded  you  will  be  much  pleased  with 
his  Acquaintance.  Several  of  Mr.  Copleys  friends  and  my  own 
have  apply’d  to  me,  without  his  knowledge,  for  Letters  of  Intro- 
duction to  some  Gentlemen  of  Weight  and  Character  in  Italy 
whose  acquaintance  might  be  the  means  of  making  his  Merit 
better  known,  and  thereby  securing  to  him  the  greater  Advan- 
tages and  procuring  him  the  best  Oppertunities  of  gaining  infor- 
mation of  and  access  to  what  may  be  most  worthy  of  his  Study 
and  Persuit. 

Knowing  of  none  to  whom  I can  with  so  much  propriety  recom- 
mend him  on  these  Acc’ts  as  to  you,  I have  taken  the  Liberty,  my 
good  Sir,  of  begging  the  favour  of  your  Countenance  and  Patron- 
age of  this  worthy  person,  from  whose  Acquaintance  I doubt  not 
you  will  derive  great  pleasure.  I should  not  wonder  to  hear  some 
time  hence,  that  others  who  resort  to  Italy  to  study  the  Labours  of 
those  departed  for  ages  past,  should  be  very  ambitious  to  be  made 
acquainted  with  this  living  Artist;  and  if  some  who  are  esteemed 
Masters,  should  condescend  to  study  a little  the  works  of  one, 


I773 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


2 11 


appearing  under  the  Character  of  a Student  or  Novitiate.  But 
I leave  it  to  yourself,  who  are  so  good  a judge  of  Merit,  to  decide 
for  yourself.  Wishing  you  all  possible  Happiness,  I remain,  Dear 
Sir,  Your  most  obedient  and  much  obliged  humble  Servant, 

John  Morgan. 


Copley  to  Jonathan  and  Isaac  Winslow  Clarke 1 

[December  I,  1 77^ •] 

Dear  Sirs, 

On  my  return  to  the  Meeting  (after  making  an  apology  for 
so  greatly  exceeding  the  time  propossed  by  me  when  I left  it,) 
I made  use  of  every  argument  my  thoughts  could  suggest  to 
draw  the  people  from  their  unfavourable  oppinion  of  you,  and 
to  convince  them  your  opposition  was  neither  the  effect  of 
obstinacy  or  unfriendliness  to  the  community;  but  altogether 
from  necessity  on  your  part  to  discharge  a trust  commited  to 
you,  a failure  in  would  subject  you  to  ruin  in  your  reputation  as 
Merchants,  to  ruin  in  point  of  fortune  your  friends  having 
engaged  for  you  in 
very  large  sums; 
that  you  were  un- 
influanced  by  any 
persons  what  ever,  that  you  had  not  seen  the  Governor  that 
Day  (this  last  I urged  in  answer  to  some  very  warm  things 
that  were  said  on  this  head  in  which  You  were  charged  with 
acting  under  the  Imediate  influance  of  the  Governor  which  in 
justice  to  you  and  him  I undertook  to  say  from  my  own 
knowledg  was  not  true.)  I observed  you  did  not  decline  appear- 
ing in  that  Body  from  any  Suspicion  that  your  Persons  would 

1 Sons  of  Richard  Clarke  and  brothers-in-law  of  Copley.  See  Sabine,  Loyalists 
of  the  American  Revolution , i.  316. 


2 12 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1773 


not  be  intirely  safe.  But  as  the  People  had  drawn  the  precise 
Line  of  Conduct  that  would  sattisfy  them,  You  thought  your 
appear[an]ce  in  that  Meeting  would  only  tend  to  inflame  it 
unless  you  could  do  what  they  demanded  from  you,  which 
being  impossable  you  thought  they  aught  not  to  insist  on;  that 
you  did  not  bring  your  selves  into  this  Dificulty  and  therefore, 
aught  not  to  be  pressed  to  do  an  Act  that  would  involve  you  in 
Ruin,  etc.  I further  observed  you  had  shewn  no  disposition  to 
bring  the  Teas  into  the  Town,  nor  would  you;  But  only  must 
be  excused  from  being  the  Active  instruments  in  sending  it 
back,  that  the  way  was  Clear  for  them  to  send  it  back  by  the 
Political  Storm  as  they  term’d  it,  raised  by  the  Body  as  by  that 
the  Capt.  could  not  unload  it,  and  must  return  of  Coarse,  that 
your  refusal  by  no  means  frustrated  their  plan.  In  short  I 
have  done  every  possable  thing,  and  altho  there  was  a unani- 
mus vote  past  Declaring  this  unsatti[s]factory  yet  it  cooled  the 
Resentment  and  they  Desolved  without  doing  or  saying  any 
thing  that  showd  an  ill  temper  to  you.  I have  been  told  and  I 
beleive  it  true,  that  after  I left  the  Meeting  Addams1  said  they 
must  not  expect  you  should  Ruin  your  selves.  I think  all 
stands  well  at  present.  Before  the  temper  of  the  People  could 
be  judg’d  of,  we  sent  Cousin  Harry  to  your  Hon’d  Father  to 
urge  his  Imediate  Departure  to  you.  You  will  see  him  this 
Day.  I have  no  doubt  in  my  own  mind  you  must  stay  where 
you  are  till  the  Vessel  sails  that  is  now  in,  at  least;  but  I beleive 
not  Longer;  Then  I think  you  will  be  able  to  return  with  Hon- 
our to  Town,  some  few  things  in  the  mean  while  being  done  on 
your  part.  I had  a Long  and  free  conversation  with  Doc’r 
Warren,  which  will  be  renued  this  afternoon  with  the  addition 
of  Coll  Hancock.  Cousin  Benj’n  Davis  is  to  be  with  us.  I must 

1 This  is  doubtful.  [Note  by  Copley.] 


yeJt.  J/ yjv.J  jmaA- 

^ /,  / /via  oer^g ^ttJfcsrtOh 

^A.AU  J‘  yi'”^  - <‘rr^ysk~*~ry/’»r+'?'t~  {A"" 

/„  '"/>* **''?'»  &**"»  ***/• »"  "''■■■  * 'A- 

”S«yar~A/’''"*'/,;'/*A'”r~'‘  *'7  iia//’,~'~’  7'"' 

* v Z 


^ /*-**-  op™'* - 


X~  * / 

J /./••■  A,td-/rr.>y  A«>  yctt  /S’-->y  7.;  '-^,4'.  Ay. /*.■'. ‘A  yA 
jfa,  rtj„„  /rr*-~  /,**.*-«"*-  - 

y^r  ’’*>/- 

J A*”  pre.jyortr'0  ty  ‘/'"r  tf**'*"*^*'"*"/"'*’/  //^wt 

Ar.uA-*"  *”/"/  * 

^ Lu  «•  fty-  *- 

fcfijLu-**'  <*r-*  "'•~***”r*~  * "7  ~ 

A/UeJ , / 0^2^.  J 

, . ^v'r* 

~ / «•*  r~~- 

. v >'  fr*»  * *’r*L  W/C‘  ~*fV"  j? 

9*s<trr  /ff/zs/c+rri- . f*'*9 


1774 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


213 


conclude  with  recommending  that  you  avoid  seeing  the 
Govoumor.  I hope  he  will  not  have  any  occasion  to  go  to  the 
Castel;  if  he  should  do  not  converse  with  him  on  the  subject, 
this,  I think  is  the  best  advise  I can  give  boath  as  a friend  to 
you  and  Him.  my  reasons  for  it  I will  tell  you  when  I see  you. 
Mrs.  Copley  and  my  self  went  at  9 o’Clock  to  Mr.  Lees  and 
return’d  so  late  that  I have  no  time  to  do  any  thing  [but] 
Scrawl;  but  I hope  you  will  be  able  to  read  this.  I will  see  you  as 
soon  as  possable.  I am,  Dear  Sir,  Yours 

J.  S.  Copley. 

Wednesday  noon. 

Copley  to  [Richard  Clarke ] 

[Boston  ca.  February  15,  1774.]1 

Hon’d  Sir, 

I received  your  Letter  of  11  Inst,  incloseing  one  for  Col’l 
Worthington  which  I have  not  Delivered,  thinking  it  best  to 
see  Mr.  [Joseph]  Lee  first,  and  after  waiting  till  yesterday 
without  his  coming  to  Town  I went  to  Cambridge  and  had  a 
full  oppertunity  of  converseing  with  him  on  the  matter;  but 
being  detained  all  night  by  means  of  an  unruly  horse  which 
gave  Sukey  and  my  self  some  trouble  I could  not  get  to  Town 
this  Momg  time  anough  to  write  you  by  any  oppertunity  of 
this  Day.  • 

The  matter  of  a Memorial  had  started  in  my  mind  more  than 
three  Weeks  ago  but  I had  many  objections  to  it  which  I could 
not  get  over,  the  most  meterialwas  this,  that  however  Clear  the 

1 See  postscript  at  the  end  of  this  letter.  Mrs.  Thomas  Hubbard  died  Febru- 
ary 15,  1774.  Hill,  History  of  the  Old  South  (Third  Church)  11.  150.  Mrs.  Thomas 
Boylston  died  February,  1774.  N.  E.Hist.  and  Gen.  Register , vn.  148.  Copley’s 
portrait  of  Thomas  Hubbard,  who  was  treasurer  of  Harvard  College,  from  1752 
to  1763,  is  now  the  property  of  Harvard  University. 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


'll  A 


214 


facts  may  be  yet  they  may  be  controverted,  your  conduct  mis- 
represented, and  what  ever  you  either  have  or  shall  say  mis- 
construed by  the  prevailing  party  in  the  House  and  a tryal 
brought  on  in  which  the  House  with  the  other  Branches  will  be 
the  Umpires  and  their  desision  should  it  be  against  you  will 
confirm  great  numbers  in  their  oppinions  who  are  but  too  much 
disposed  to  beleive  the  Worst  of  you  and  are  not  at  all  solicitious 
to  look  into  the  facts  and  vew  them  with  candor  and  impartial- 
lity : and  this  Judgment  of  the  Court  will  stand  on  Record  and 
conclude  every  thing  against  you,  and  render  it  more  dificult 
than  ever  to  bring  People  to  think  of  you  as  they  aught,  not 
only  in  this  province,  but  through  the  Continent  and  in  Europe. 
Should  this  be  the  effect,  as  I really  think  it  may,  your  principal 
intention  would  be  defeated,  that  of  doing  justice  to  your 
Injured  carractors,  which,  however,  I think  will  be  well  effected 
in  the  way  you  propose,  if  it  could  be  asertained,  that  the  lead- 
ing Members  in  the  House  would  take  hold  of  such  an  oppor- 
tunity to  reinstate  you,  their  ends  being  answered  and  having 
no  advantage  in  prospect  from  keeping  you  at  the  Castle  or 
Banishing  you  your  Country,  having  taken  up  this  oppinion 
and  an  opportunity  presenting  itself  when  I was  in  Town  on 
Tuesday  I improved  it  to  the  purpose  finding  out  the  Senti- 
ments of  some  of  the  Heads  and  hope  very  soon  to  be  able  to 
asertain  what  the  fate  of  a Memorial  would  be  should  it  be 
persued.  Should  it  [be]  unfavourable  it  appears  to  me  a News- 
paper Publication  signed  by  the  Agents  would  answer  all  the 
purposes  of  doing  justice  to  your  Injured  carracters,  that  a 
Memorial  would,  without  the  disadvantages. 

I have  no  doubt  that  some  of  the  many  Callumneys  in  the 
Newspapers  aught  to  be  contradicted.  This  has  been  my 
oppinion  ever  since  the  dispute  commenced;  After  I had  fully 


1774 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


21 5 


weighed  the  whole  of  your  d[e]sign  the  above  was  what  struck 
me,  and  being  the  only  sentiments  I could  adopt  I saw  your 
friend  Mr.  Lee  who  agreed  in  every  perticular,  only  he  thought 
me  almost  romantick  in  supposeing  it  a possable  thing  that  the 
Leaders  would  countinance  a Memorial  in  the  Coart;  but  I 
think  it  may  be  tried.  I own  I think  the  prospect  of  success  very 
small,  but  I dont  dispair  neither.  Mr.  Lee  observed  to  me  that 
although  his  own  Sentiments  were  against  the  Memorial  yet  as 
they  stood  connected  with  yours  he  should  be  for  your  try- 
ing it,  as  he  has  often  found  your  judgment  better  than  his 
own  where  you  had  differed  in  oppinion.  Should  you  on  the 
Whole  conclude  to  prefer  a Memorial  rather  than  publish  in 
the  Newspapers  your  justification,  be  pleased  to  let  me  know 

and  I will  deliver  the  letter  to  Coll  W imediately.  Mr. 

Green  I would  not  see  till  I had  been  with  Mr.  Lee,  but  will 
see  him  to  morrow.  As  it  now  grows  late  I must  conclude 
with  assureing  you  I shall  not  neglect  any  thing  that  will  have 
a tendancy  to  remove  every  obstacle  to  your  return  and  that 
will  do  justice  to  your  Carracters  as  far  as  may  be  in  my  power. 
I am,  Hond  Sir,  Your  Most  Dutifull  Son 

John  Singleton  Copley. 

P S I have  jus  heard  Mrs.  Hubbard  is  Dead  and  Mrs. 
Boylston. 


John  Singleton  to  Henry  Pelham 

Ballygerreen,  Jany.  27,  1774. 

Dr.  Nephew, 

I recid  your  favor  of  the  3d  augt.  Last  and  am  hartley  Con- 
samed  to  find  my  Dr.  Sister  is  still  in  a declining  way  and 
hope  the  gret  God  will  prolong  her  days  till  she  sees  you  all 


2l6 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1774 


well  provided  and  setled  to  her  sattisf action.1  I hope  you 
will  present  my  warmest  Love  and  Sencer  affections  to  her, 
and  asure  her  the  lenth  of  time  and  gret  Distance  has  not 
abeted  my  love  and  sencear  Regards  for  her  and  all  her  famaly, 
and  belive  me  nothing  but  the  Difacolty  of  Conveing  lettrs.  to 
you  hinders  My  not  writing  oftner  to  you  all,  as  I am  serten 
maney  of  my  Letters  Niver  Corns  to  your  hands. 

I sincerly  Congratulet  you  and  your  Brother  on  his  Mator- 
amonall  State  and  on  the  blesing  God  has  given  him  by  the 
increase  of  his  famaly  which  is  Sertenly  a gret  blesing  when 
they  are  blesed  with  sence  and  the  feer  of  God  and  dutey  and 
love  to  their  perants.  Your  acct.  of  his  marrige  is  the  first  I 
hard  of  him.  You  mentioned  in  your  letter  that  he  intended 
to  make  the  tour  of  Europ ; if  so  I hope  he  will  be  so  kind  to 
Com  to  this  Kingdom.  I asure  you  It  would  give  all  his  frends 
heer  Infinet  plesur  to  see  him  or  aney  of  my  Dear  Nephews. 

pre  what  is  becom  of  yr  Br  Charles?  I have  not  hard  of  him 
sence  he  was  in  London  and  then  I reci’d  to  Lettrs.  from  him  the 
Last  of  them  was  Dated  27  Deer.,  1759.  I hope  in  your  next 
you  will  give  me  an  acct.  of  him  and  all  the  rest  of  my  relesons 
in  ameraco  and  that  you  and  my  Name  sake  will  Continue  a 
More  Reglaur  Corespondance  with  me  as  nothing  would  give 
me  more  rell  plesur  then  heering  from  you  all.  I now  will  give 
you  a shart  acct.  of  my  famaly.  I have  but  four  Child’n,  two 
Dauters  and  two  Sons  — the  youngest  is  mared  7 years  ago  to 
one  Edwd.  Palmer;  he  was  bred  to  the  Law  and  has  a good 
Estate  he  has  3 Dauters  and  is  very  hapley  setled  in  Birr  in  the 
King  County.  I gave  him  £1000  pounds  Stg.  with  her.  My 
Eldist  dauter  was  mared  13  th  Instant  to  Antoney  King,  a man 
Bred  to  the  Law  who  has  a good  Estate  In  Dublin.  I gave  him 
1 Mrs.  Pelham  died  in  1789. 


1774 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


*7 


£2000  pound  Stg.  his  fathefr]  is  an  Alderman  In  Dublin  and 
was  Knighted  by  the  Lord  Leftnant  for  his  actifety  and  Cli- 
fomes  when  he  was  Sherif ; I asure  you  I am  gretly  fitteged 
from  the  horey  of  this  weding  by  receveing  and  paying  visets 
which  was  finesed  Yester  Day;  My  Br.  Cooper  and  his  wife1 
are  all  well  and  wants  for  nothing  but  Childer  to  make  them 
happy.  My  Eldist  Son  is  19  year  ould;  me  Second  Son  a bout 
IO  year  ould. 

I send  this  by  Cap’n  Kley  who  is  bound  to  Lond’n  and 
promises  to  forward  it  to  you  by  som  safe  hand. 

[the  youck  you  ware  to  be  sadled  with  and  tron  of  by  the 
brafe  Bostons  is  now  the  Stamp  act  past  in  a Law  and  to  take 
place  the  25  of  March  next,  besides  severall  other  Vilonos 
taxes  lead  on  Yous  by  a Most  Vilors  and  Coropt  Parlement 
whos  prinsoble  part  are  bribed  to  sel  there  Contrey.]2  plese  to 
present  my  sencer  Love  to  my  Dr.  Sister,  yr.  Brother  and  Sis- 
ter In  Law,  and  all  frends,  and  belive  me  to  be  Dr.  Hary, 
Yours  Most  Sencerly  and  AfTly, 

John  Singleton. 

Copley  to  Isaac  Winslow  Clarke 3 

Boston,  April  26,  1774. 

Dear  Sir, 

The  Ladys  after  the  pleasure  of  spending  a most  agreable 
day  with  you,  got  home  about  half  past  eight  oclock  all  well, 
and  at  the  usual  hour  retired  to  bed;  about  12  oclock  a number 

1 Ann,  sister  of  John  and  Mary  Singleton. 

2 The  words  in  brackets  have  been  erased  so  effectively  that  it  is  almost 
impossible  to  decipher  them.  There  is  nothing  to  indicate  whether  this  was  done 
by  Singleton  or  by  Pelham,  to  whom  they  must  have  given  offence. 

3 From  the  Collection  of  Mr.  Denison  R.  Slade. 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


I774 


2l8 


of  persons  came  to  the  house,  knock’d  at  the  front  door,  and 
awoke  Sukey  and  myself.  1 immediately  opened  the  window, 
and  asked  them  what  they  wanted;  they  asked  me  if  Mr.  Wat- 
son 1 was  in  the  house.  I told  them  he  was  not,  they  made  some 
scruples  of  beleiving  me,  and  asked  if  I would  give  them  my 
word  and  honour  that  he  was  not  in  the  house.  I replied  yes. 
They  than  said  he  had  been  here  and  desired  to  know  where  he 
was.  I told  them  he  had  been  here,  but  he  was  gone  and  I sup- 
posed out  of  Town  as  he  went  in  his  chaise  from  this  with  an 
intention  to  go  home;  they  than  desired  to  know  how  I came  to 
entertain  such  a Rogue  and  Villin,  My  reply  was,  he  was  with 
Coll’l  Hancock  in  the  afternoon  at  his  house  and  from  thence 
came  here  and  was  now  gone  out  of  Town ; they  seemed  some- 
what sattisfied  with  this  and  retired  a little  way  up  the  Street 
but  soon  returned  and  kept  up  the  Indian  Yell  for  sometime 
when  I again  got  up  and  went  to  the  window;  and  told  them, 
I thought  I had  sattisfied  them  Mr.  Watson  was  not  in  the 
house  but  I again  assured  them  he  was  not  and  beg’d  they  would 
not  disturb  my  family,  they  said  they  could  take  no  mans 
word,  they  beleived  he  was  here  and  if  he  was  they  would  know 
it,  and  my  blood  would  be  on  my  own  head  if  I had  deceived 
them;  or  if  I entertained  him  or  any  such  Villain  for  the  future 
must  expect  the  resentment  of  Joice.  a great  deal  more  of  such 
like  language  passed  when  they  left  me  and  passed  up  the  street 
and  were  met  by  a chaise  which  stoped  as  in  consultation  by 
Mr.  Greens,  which  in  a little  time  turned  and  went  up  with 
them,  by  this  you  must  see  my  conjectures  with  regard  to  you 
are  not  ill  founded,  nor  my  cautions  needless.  I hope  you  will 
be  continually  on  your  gaurd  when  you  are  off  the  Island;  what 
a spirrit!  what  if  Mr.  Watson  had  stayed  (as  I pressed  him  to) 

1 Colonel  George  Watson,  of  Plymouth,  a mandamus  counsellor. 


J774  C op  ley  -Pelham  Letters 


to  spend  the  night.  I must  either  have  given  up  a friend  to  the 
insult  of  a Mob  or  had  my  house  pulled  down  and  perhaps  my 
family  murthered.  I am,  Dear  Sir,  Your  Affectionate  Brother 
and  Humble  Ser’t, 

John  Singleton  Copley. 
Addressed;  For  Mr.  Isaac  Clarke  at  Castle  William. 


Joseph  W ebb  to  Henry  Pelham 
Sir, 

Your’s  of  the  26th  Ulo.  I Reed,  per  last  post,  and  am  much 
surprizd  at  the  Contents.  I wish  you  wou’d  take  the  trouble  to 
call  on  Mr.  Hyde,  the  Hartford  Post  Rider,  to  whom  I paid  the 
Mon[e]y  on  the  Receiving  the  Picture,  which  was  last  fall.  I 
was  in  Boston  last  Februaiy  and  shou’d  hardly  have  come  out 
of  Town,  had  it  not  have  been  paid;  and  was  sorry  that  I was 
in  such  hurry  as  not  to  be  able  to  wait  on  Mr.  Copley  out  of 
Compliance,  for  I found  Him  vastly  polite  and  genteel  when 
He  did  the  Work  for  me.  I can’t  say  but  I am  much  displeased 
with  the  post,  for  of  all  debts,  I shou’d  never  consent  to  one 
like  this.  I am,  Sir,  with  compliments  to  Mr.  Copley  and  His 
Lady,  and  fo  Your  Self,  Your  most  H.  Servt. 

Jos.  Webb.1 

Shall  be  much  Obliged  to  know  what  Mastr.  Hyde  says. 
You  shall  soon  have  the  Affair  put  to  rights  as  I Expect  to  be  in 
town  in  the  Course  [of]  4 Weeks. 

Wethersfield,  June  3d,  1774. 

1 Brother  of  Samuel  Blatchley  Webb. 


220 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1774 


Henry  Pelham  to  [Helena  Pelham ] 1 

Boston,  June  8,  1774. 

Hon’d  and  dear  Aunt, 

A diffidence  of  appearing  in  a proper  manner  before  you 
has  hitherto  prevented  me  from  tendering  you  those  marks 
of  duty,  Esteem  and  Affection  which  the  distance  between 
us  will  permitt  and  the  Regard  I owe  to  the  sister  of  an 
Hon’d  and  dear  Father  demands.  By  so  favourable  an  opper- 
tunitv  I take  the  liberty  of  presenting  myself  before  you 
with  my  most  affectionate  duty  as  a Nephew  who  is  exceed- 
ingly solicitous  of  obtaining  your  favour  and  Blessing. 

This  will  be  delivered  you  by  my  very  dear  and  tender 
Brother  Mr.  Copley  who  I hope  will  obtain  your  favourable 
Notice.  He  is  a Gentleman  possessd  of  all  those  endearing 
qualities  which  are  respected  by  the  Virtuous  and  good  and 
adornd  with  those  accomplishments  that  attract  the  notice  and 
esteem  of  his  Friends  and  Acquaintance.  In  his  profession  he  is 
very  capital,  the  many  testimonies  of  Respect  he  has  received 
from  abroad  evincing  his  fame  to  be  very  extensive.  To  him 
I am  under  the  greatest  and  most  perticular  Obligations  for  the 
early  and  continued  Mark  of  his  kindness  to  me.  By  him  I am 
fixed  in  a Buisness  which  by  the  blessing  of  Fleaven  upon 
Industry  and  application  will  render  my  future  Life  easy  and 
happy. 

The  difficulty  I find  in  speaking  of  myself  forms  the  pro- 
priety of  my  refering  you  to  Mr.  Copley  for  a more  perticular 
Account.  My  hon’d  Mother  begs  your  acceptance  of  her  best 
Wish[e]s  for  your  Happiness  her  kindest  Love  and  Regards. 

1 See  Copley  to  Pelham , August  5,  1774,  infra. 


1774 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


22  1 


Affections  she  has  always  bore  you,  and  hopes  for  your  excuse 
in  droping  a Corespondence  with  you1  which  her  very  ill  state 
of  Health2  has  prevented  her  many  years  from  continuing 
with  her  nearest  Fri[e]nds. 

My  Brother  Chas.  Pelham  I had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  this 
Mom’g.  He  and  my  other  Fr[i]end[s]  with  him  are  well,  except 
my  sister  Pelham,  who  has  not  yet  entirely  recovered  from  the 
violent  Disorder  with  which  she  was  some  time  ago  attack’d 
but  which  I hope  time  will  Eradicate.  Requesting  your  Blessing 
and  asking  the  favour  of  a line  from  you  which  be  assured  will 
much  add  to  My  Happyness,  I conclude  with  wishing  you 
health  and  every  felicity.  I am  with  regard  Your  very  Duti- 
full  Nephew  and  Humble  Servt. 

H.  P. 


Captain  John  Small  to  Copley 

Dear  Sir, 

Your  father  in  Law  Mr.  Clarke  told  me  you  are  at  the  Eve  of 
Departure  for  England;  and  that  Letters  of  Introduction  would 
be  agreable  to  you.  I have  therefore  troubled  you  with  the 
inclosed  to  a Gentleman  whom  without  Partiality  I can  ven- 
ture to  say  you’ll  find  a most  worthy  Benevolent  sensible 
Judicious  regarder  of  Men  of  Merit. 

I have  only  time  to  wish  you  a good  passage  and  to  assure 
[you]  I am,  Dr.  Sir,  Yours  very  Sincerly, 

John  Small. 

Danvers  near  Salem,  June  9th,  1774. 

1 Erased:  “owing  to  trouble  and  Illness  occasioned  by  the  death  of  the  dearest 
and  most  affectionate  friend.” 

2 Erased:  “renders  very  difficult  and  painfull  to  her.” 


222  Copley -Pelham  Letters  1774 


Captain  John  Small  to  Alexander  Small 
Dear  Brother, 

I left  New  York  so  suddenly  I had  no  time  to  apprise  you  by  the 
last  Mail  (I  mean  that  of  June)  of  my  departure  for  this  Country. 

I have  at  present  every  reason  to  suppose  that  my  coming  here 
will  be  of  some  Service  to  myself  and  of  no  loss  to  the  Publick 
Service;  my  extensive  acquaintance  with  the  People  of  New  Eng- 
land enables  me  to  be  so  far  of  use,  as  to  distinguish  those  who 
are  well  dispos’d,  from  those  that  are  otherwise  (and  of  course 
Enemies  to  their  Country;)  and  I doubt  not  from  the  general 
appearance  of  Tranquility  at  present,  that  the  Province  from 
having  been  consider’d  one  of  the  Least;  will  soon  appear  one  of 
the  most  Loyal,  (and  of  course  one  of  the  most  happy  and  flourish- 
ing) in  America.  I hope  I shall  soon  be  able  to  confirm  this  asser- 
tion and  shall  be  truly  happy  if  it  can  be  in  any  shape  in  my  poor 
power  to  contribute  thereto. 

I herewith  beg  leave  to  introduce  and  recommend  to  you  a most 
ingenious  and  deserving  native  of  this  province,  Mr.  Copely  the 
Gentleman  I have  frequently  mention’d  to  you  of  so  high  merit 
and  distinguish’d  a Character  as  a portrait  Painter.  He  is  in  my 
oppinion  one  of  the  first  Geniouses  of  the  Age;  and  as  such  I’m 
very  sure  you’ll  take  great  pleasure  in  protecting  recommending 
and  introducing  him  to  People  of  Taste  of  knowledge  and  of 
Judgement  of  which  your  extensive  and  Valuable  accquaintance 
and  Friends  chiefly  consist. 

Mr.  Copely  drew  a portrait  in  Crayons,  about  six  years  ago; 
which  you  are  now  possess’d  of.  He  has  hardly  us’d  his  Pencil 
where  the  Performance  has  not  been  universally  admired;  so  that 
his  own  works  will  speak  far  more  in  his  favour  than  any  thing 
[that]  can  be  said  by,  Dear  Sir,  Your  most  dutifull  and  affectionate 
Brother, 

John  Small. 

Salem  the  residence  of  Genl.  Gage,  June  9th,  1774. 

[Addressed:]  To  Alexander  Small,  Esquire,  in  Villars  [Filliers] 
Street  York  Buildings,  in  the  Strand,  London. 


1774 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


223 


Boston 

1774 

June 


A Bill  for  Portraits 

The  Honble  Thomas  Fluker  Esqr. 

to  Jno.  S.  Copley,  Dr. 


To  his  own  Portrait 

To  his  Sons.  Do 

To  two  black  and  Gold  Frames  at  £1.8 

Total 


£14. .0. .0 
14. .o. .o 
£28. .0. .0 
2.16. .0 
£30.16. .0 


Copley  to  his  Wife 1 


Dover,  July  9th,  1774. 

My  ever  Dearest  Sukey, 

Through  the  Divine  goodness  I am  now  in  safe  at  this  place 
and  shall  take  my  departure  for  London  where  I hope  to  be  to 
morrow,  it  being  but  one  Days  ride  from  this,  it  is  not  possable 
to  have  a better  passage  than  I have  had,  the  weither  during 
the  whole  time  being  very  moderate  and  winds  fair  except  about 
six  hours  calm.  Capt.  Robson  has  been  his  whole  life  passing 
the  seas  and  never  knew  any  thing  like  it.  however  after  29 
Days  at  Sea  the  land  is  a most  greatfull  sight.  I was  two  Days 
very  sea-sick,  ever  since  which  I have  my  health  very  well  and  I 
trust  in  the  Mercys  of  God  that  it  will  be  continued  to  me  to 
yourself  those  dear  little  Babes  (and  our  other  friends)  and  that 
we  shall  long  enjoy  a happy  union  when  this  blank  in  life  for  I 
can  call  it  no  other  is  passed,  in  the  mean  time  remember  you 
cannot  shew  your  love  to  me  in  a stronger  manner  than  by 
takeing  the  utmost  care  of  your  own  health.  I am  very  ancious 
to  hear  from  you  how  you  all  are,  and  what  state  the  Town  is  in, 
and  how  Brother  Harry  has  proced’d  in  my  affairs.  I hope  my 
1 Chamberlain  Collection,  F.  4.10,  in  the  Boston  Public  Library. 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


*774 


224 


Hon’d  Mother  did  not  take  it  hard : that  I did  not  see  her,  or 
Brother  or  Sister  Bromfield  before  I left  em.  I hope  you  have 
taken  care  to  let  them  know  how  it  happened  that  I did  not. 
do  let  me  know  if  my  Dear  Betsey  missed  me  much,  be  very 
perticular  when  you  write  at  all  times,  give  her  and  the  other 
dear  babes  a tender  kiss  for  me  and  as  soon  as  I can  I shall  send 
some  pretty  things  to  gratify  them,  give  my  Duty  to  my  Dear 
Mother,  love  to  Brother  Harry,  and  love  to  Brother  and  Sister 
Bromfield,  Couzin  Nabby,  Sally,  Betsey,  etc.,  and  best  respects 
comp’ts.  Love  etc.  to  all  my  friends  as  you  shall  judge  fit  and 
proper,  To  your  Hon’d  Pappa  my  Duty,  love  to  Sister  Lucy, 
Brother  Isaac,  when  you  shall  have  an  oppertunity.  if  Brother 
and  sister  Startin  are  yet  with  you  remember  me  to  them  in  the 
Most  Effectionate  manner.  My  best  Wishes  ever  accompany 
you,’ my  Dearest  life,  and  my  prayers  for  your  happiness  health 
and  safety  shall  at  all  times  be  offerjed]  up  to  the  throne  of 
Divine  mercy  for  you  and  our  Dear  little  ones,  and  trusting  in 
Gods  goodness  that  we  shall  not  long  be  seperated  I conclud 
with  assureing  you  I will  make  the  time  as  short  as  it  is  possable, 
and  am  My  Dearest  love  forever  most  Effecly  your  tender  and 
Loving  Husband, 

John  Singleton  Copley. 

I forgot  to  tell  brother  Harry  when  Mr.  Startin  came  to  town 
to  see  Mr.  (I  forget  his  name,  he  to  whom  the  bill  on  Mr. 
Startin  was  sold  to)  and  see  if  the  overpluss  money  can  be 
recoverd.  he  must  well  remember  he  took  the  Bill  in  Ster’g, 
purely  as  he  said  that  I might  not  suffer  by  the  Difference  of 
Exchange,  Guineas  being  at  twenty  one  shillings,  this  he  did  to 
oblige  me.  the  Bill  Drawn  on  Mr.  Mifflin  was  for  fifty  two 
pounds  ten  shillings  sterling,  and  that  shurely  aught  to  admit  of 
my  Drawing  for  the  same  without  loss. 


1774  Copley -Pelham  Letters  225 


Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 1 

London,  July  nth,  1774. 

Dear  Brother, 

I am  now  begining  that  corraspondance  from  which  you  will 
no  doubt  receive  much  pleasure,  and  altho  you  will  not  find 
much  to  entertain  you  in  this  first  Letter,  yet  that  defect  will 
be  amply  supplyed  by  its  giveing  you  certain  intelligance  of 
my  safe  arrival  in  this  City  after  a most  easy  and  safe  passage, 
and  that  I am  in  perfect  health,  through  the  Divine  goodness 
I have  been  so  ever  since  I left  Boston  except  two  Days  of  sea 
sickness.  I landed  at  Deal,  not  at  Dover,  as  I informed  Sukey 
in  my  first  Letter,  that  Letter  being  wrote  on  board  and  left 
with  the  Capt.  to  send  if  he  should  find  any  Vessell  in  the  River 
as  he  went  up.  at  that  time  I was  in  expection  of  a boat  from 
the  shore,  of  which  I was  disappointed,  and  so  saild  in  the  ship 
to  Deal  where  I landed  and  took  a post  Chaise  and  came  to 
London  through  a most  enchanting  Country,  of  which  no  part 
of  North  America  that  I have  seen  can  give  you  the  least  Idea 
of.  my  Post  Chaise  and  Horses  were  as  genteel  as  any  Chariot 
that  roals  through  your  Streets,  with  a Postilion  well  Dress’d 
as  any  you  have  seen  in  the  service  of  the  first  gentlemen  of 
fortune  with  you.  My  living  on  the  Road  of  the  best  kind, 
Double  refined  Shugar,  best  hison  Tea,  and  all  things  in  propor- 
tion. no  gentleman  with  us  has  things  better  or  more  Genteelly 
served  than  is  in  all  the  Houses  where  I stoped  to  be  met  with, 
and  this  Journey  of  72  Miles  cost  me  but  three  Guineas,  when 
with  us  the  Carriage  would  have  cost  more  money.  Sunday 
Even’g  I arrived  at  the  New  England  Coffee  House,  and  soon 

1 An  extract  from  a letter  of  the  same  date  to  Mrs.  Copley  is  given  in  Amory, 
John  Singleton  Copley , 27. 


226 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1774 


found  Brother  Clarke,1  who  is  very  well,  this  Morn’g  at  his 
Lodgings  I devote  to  write  to  Mrs.  Copley  and  you,  as  a 
Vessell  will  sail  in  a Day  or  two  and  I cannot  go  abroad  till  I 
have  procured  some  things  to  be  Decent  in. 

July  15th.  I have  been  to  see  my  friend  Mr.  West,  and  find  in 
him  those  amiable  quallitys  that  makes  his  friendship  boath 
desireable  as  an  artist  and  as  a Gentleman,  on  Wednesday  he 
introduced  me  and  Brother  Clarke  to  Sr.  Josha.  Renolds’s, 
where  we  saw  a very  large  number  of  his  portraits,  and  a 
fine  collection  of  Other  Masters,  yesterday,  or  Thursday,  for 
I think  it  better  to  pursue  by  the  Days  of  the  week  in  my 
Cronology  than  by  other  Dates,  I had  the  superlative  pleasure 
of  Visiting  the  Royal  Accademy  where  the  Students  had  a 
naked  model  from  which  they  were  Drawing,  the  front  of  this 
pallace,  designed  by  Inogo  Jones,  is  Very  magnificant.  The 
Collection  of  the  Statues  Bassorelevios,  etc.,  is  very  fine.  I 
have  seen  Mr.  West’s  Death  of  General  Wolf,  which  is  sufficient 
of  itself  to  Immortalize  the  Author  of  it.  there  is  a fine  print 
cf  it  ingraveing,2  which  when  done  you  shall  see.  I find  the 
practice  of  Painting  or  rather  the  means  by  which  composition 
is  attained  easyer  than  I thought  it  had  been,  the  sketches 
are  made  from  the  life,  and  not  only  from  figures  singly,  but 
often  from  groups.  This  you  remember  was  have  often  talked 
of,  and  by  this  a great  dificulty  is  removed  that  lay  on  my  mind. 
Mr.  West  proposes  to  Carry  me  to  the  Queen’s  Pallace  to  Day. 
I must  not  be  very  perticular  in  my  Acc’ts  of  what  I see  in  this 
place  yet,  for  they  come  so  thick  my  time  will  not  permit  me 
to  be  so  at  present,  this  Mor’g  I have  to  deliver  most  of  my 
Letters  of  Recommendation  which  will  encrease  my  Acquaint- 

1 Jonathan  Clarke. 

2 By  William  Woollett.  The  plate  was  not  issued  until  January,  1776. 


*774 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


227 


ance.  this  is  really  an  astonishing  City;  many  parts  of  which,  I 
mean,  the  buildings,  are  so  exactly  what  I had  conceived  that  I 
am  surprized  at  it.  I find  I am  like  to  have  a companion  to  go 
to  Italy  with  me,  a Gentleman  who  is  about  forty  lately  ingaged 
in  painting  and  our  pursuits  will  be  the  same.1  he  has  the  french 
and  Italian  Langage  and  only  weits  for  the  best  season,  that 
will  be  in  about  three  weeks,  in  this  I think  I am  happy.  I have 
from  Mr.  West,  that  I need  coppy  very  little,  that  fifteen 
Months  for  me  will  be  equel  to  as  many  years  to  young  Stu- 
dents, so  that  my  time  will  not  exceed  what  I talked  to  Sukey, 
and  desire  you  to  tell  her  so.  the  last  night  I slept  in  my  new 
Lodgings.  I have  the  first  floor,  very  Genteel,  for  which  I pay 
a Guinea  a week,  it  consists  two  Chambers,  with  small  room 
to  powder  in.  I find  my  breakfast  and  have  an  invitation  to 
dine  always  with  Mr.  West  when  not  otherways  ingaged;  Capt. 
Scott  sails  in  about  a week,  when  I shall  write  more  at  leasure 
than  I am  at  present,  and  hope  to  send  your  things  by  him. 
Give  my  love  and  Duty  to  my  Hon’d  and  Dear  Mother, 
Comp’ts,  etc.,  etc.,  to  all  Friends,  observe  this  letter  is  several 
Days  later  in  the  Date  than  Mrs.  Copley’s,  which  I put  into 
the  bagg  least  it  should  be  taken  down,  so  you  must  communi- 
cate (if  you  can  read  it)  to  her,  I never  had  my  health  better. 
I am  sorry  Brother  Clarke  and  I are  so  distant  from  each  other, 
but  he  is  in  the  City  and  I at  the  Coart  End  of  the  Town,  about 
two  Miles  or  somthing  more  from  each  other.  I am  within  a 
few  Doors  from  Mr.  West’s,2  but  shall  see  Mr.  Clarke  every 
Day;  for  two  Miles  here  is  not  what  we  think  them  with  us, 

1 Carter  was  the  artist’s  name,  and  his  companionship  is  shown  in  the  extracts 
from  a diary  kept  during  this  journey.  Printed  in  Cunningham,  Lives  of  British 
Painters , and  in  Dunlap,  1.  112. 

2 West  lived  at  14  Newman  Street  for  forty-five  years  before  his  death  in  1820; 
before  that  he  was  in  Castle  Street,  Leicester  Fields. 


228 


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I774 


and  I might  as  well  have  stayd  at  home  as  in  the  City.  Lord 
Gage 1 is  out  of  Town  this  Week,  so  have  not  seen  him.  so  is 
Lord  Dartmouth,  to  whom  I shall  be  introduced  when  he 
returns,  but  I must  break  off.  remember  to  be  Active  to  do 
with  Spirit  what  you  have  to  do.  I long  to  hear  how  things  go 
with  you.  I am,  Dear  Brother,  Most  Affecly  your 

J.  S.  Copley. 

July  15,  1774.  Direct  to  New  England  Coffee  House. 


Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 2 

Boston,  July  17, 3 1774. 

My  dear  Brother, 

AVessell  sailing  tomorrow  for  England  from  Dartmouth4 
affords  me  an  oppertunity  of  presenting  you  with  my  most 
sincere  and  hearty  wishes  for  your  Happyness  and  welfare. 
The  weather  since  you  sailed  having  been  remarkably  fine, 
your  affectionate  Friends  here  felicitate  themselves  in  the  Idea 
of  your  having  before  this  arrived  in  England  after  a safe, 
quick  and  ple[a]sant  Passage.  I hope  this  will  meet  you  placed 
agreably  to  ours  and  your  own  wishes  in  health  Peace  and  (as 
far  as  possable)  in  the  enjoyment  of  all  Earthly  Happyness. 
My  Honor’d  Mamma  desi[r]es  me  to  present  you  with  Blessing 
and  kindest  Love,  and  to  assure  you  that  you  shall  allways  have 
her  prayers  at  the  throne  of  Heavenly  Grace  for  your  temporal 

1 Thomas  Gage,  first  Viscount  Gage  in  the  peerage  of  Ireland. 

2 There  are  two  drafts  of  this  letter,  with  numerous  corrections  in  both  of 
them.  The  first  draft  is  shorter  and  has  nothing  about  the  dispute  with  Edward 
Green. 

3 June  25  changed  to  July  17. 

4 First  draft:  Providence.  Second  draft:  Providence  changed  to  Dartmouth. 


1774 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


229 


and  eternal  welfare.  I am  happy  to  inform  you  that  her  Health 
is  rather  better  than  when  you  left  us. 

My  Dear  Sister  and  her  little  family  are  well,  she  has  wrote 
you  by  the  Admerals’  Ship,  which  sailed  a few  Days  ago.  I 
must  make  an  apollogy  for  not  having  wrote  myself  by  the 
same  Conveyance].  I fully  intended  it  but  the  Vessel  sliped 
away  before  I was  apprised  of  the  time  of  her  Sailing.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bromfield,  my  Sister  and  myself,  spent  a day  or  two  lately1 
at  Salem  where  we  had  the  Pleasure  of  se[e]ing  Mr.  Clarke  and 
our  other  Friends  with  him  in  health  and  Peace,  once  more 
enjoying  the  Blessings  of  social  and  domestic  Life.  By  this 
Oppertunity  I propose  writing  to  aunt  Cooper,  Uncle  Singleton 
and  my  Cousin  King.  I received  a few  days  after  you  sailed  a 
most  tender  and  affectionate  Letter  from  my  Uncle,  a few 
extracts  of  which  I beg  leave  to  incert.  it  is  dated  January  27, 
1774  . . .2 

I must  now  leave  a pleasing  to  enter  upon  a disagreable 
Subject,  a Subject  I sincerely  wish  I had  no  accasion  to  men- 
tion, Viz.  the  Conduct  of  Mr.  Green3  with  respect  to  the  settle- 
ment of  hi[s]  Account.  I shall  not  repeat  what  passed  previous 
to  your  sailing,  for  that  cant  but  be  recent  in  your  memory.  I 
think  it  was  to[o]  remarkable  to  escape  it.  shall  therefore]  con- 
fine myself  to  what  has  since  occurred.  The  4th  of  July  I went 
in  to  him  and  told  Kim  I came  from  Mrs.  Copley,  with  her  re- 
quest that  he  would  settle  his  Account,  as  she  was  in  want  of 
Money  to  support  her  Family,  he  told  me  that  he  had  not  got 
the  Accou[n]t  and  cou’d  not  get  it  from  you,  tho  he  was  very  so- 
licitous to  for  a month  before  you  went  away.  I gave  him  the 

1 First  draft:  “spent  the  last  Sunday.” 

2 The  whole  letter  is  printed  p.  213,  supra. 

3 Edward  Green  (i733-I79°)>  who  married  Mary  Storer. 


230 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


*774 


Ac[c]ount.  He  read  it,  and  objected  to  the  price  of  his  Brother’s 
Picture,  spoke  largely  of  Mrs.  Copley’s  solicitude  to  get  some 
articles  of  Femiture  from  him,  said  he  did  not  care  for  the 
Pictures  being  paid  for  two  years  before  hand,  woud  not  have 
objected  if  it  had  been  three,  would  not  mention  these  things 
only  to  give  me  an  Accou[n]t  of  how  the  matter  stood,  he  said 
you  had  charged  25  per  Cent  upon  the  glass.  I told  him  no 
that  I had  paid  for  that  very  Glass  16/.  well,  sais  he,  these  are 
mere  trifles.  The  Rent  is  the  main  article,  your  Brother  has 
over  charged  that.  I was  to  give  but  4o£.  I told  him  I was 
much  surprised  to  hear  him  say  so.  That  It  had  been  always 
understood  that  He  was  to  give  46£  13/4  a year  and  that  you 
had  refused  4o£,  which  was  what  Mr.  Startin  had  offered  you. 
here  he  gave  me  an  Explination  which  as  well  as  I knew  the 
man  I must  Confess  astonished  me  coming  even  from  him. 
that  was,  that  He  was  to  give  4o£  for  the  House  and  6£  13.4. 
for  the  bam,  if  he  chose  to  occupy  it.  but,  sais  he,  I never  had 
the  barn,  the  Key  of  it  indeed  was  sent  into  me,  with  a Desire 
that  I might  make  use  of  it  if  I had  Ocasion;  but  in  two  Days 
after  it  was  sent  for  again  and  I have  never  had  it  since,  to  this 
I expressed  my  great  Wonder,  and  told  him  that  the  barn 
was  certainly  occupied  by  him,  that  you  had  frequently  put 
yourself  to  Inconven[i]en[ce]  rather  than  trouble  him  for  the 
Occasional  Use  of  it.  No,  he  said,  so  far  from  it  that  you  had 
let  the  Bam  to  other  People.  He  asked  me  what  Directions 
you  had  left  respecting  a Deduction  for  the  House  not  being 
finished  etc?  I told  him  that  you  had  left  directions  about  it, 
but  that  it  was  proper  for  him  to  say  what  he  expected,  he 
said  he  mentioned  one  Article  of  Damage,  that  of  his  wood. 
He  was  obliged  to  give  20/  a Cord  for  30  Cord,  by  which  he 
lost  io£  Lawfull  Money  for  want  of  a Wood  House  being 


1774 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


231 


bu[i]lt  in  season.  How  in  nature  he  got  30  Cord  of  wood  into  a 
place  that  can  hold  but  20  is  beyond  my  sagacyty  to  find  out. 
After  a long  harrange  in  which  he  spoke  of  breach  of  engage- 
ment and  not  being  well  treated  he  told  me  that  he  had  not 
made  out  his  Accounts,  which  he  promised  to  do  the  next  day 
and  send  it  in,  and  expected  to  receive  some  bills  from  Salem 
that  Even’g,  or  at  farthest  the  next  Saturday,  when  he  would 
settle  the  acc’t  some  how.  upon  the  Whole  I collected  that  he 
did  not  mean  to  pay  for  the  Barn,  and  that  he  means  to  have  a 
very  large  Deduction  for  the  other  things. 

A few  Days  ago  I again  called  upon  him  and  asked  weithejr] 
he  was  now  ready  to  settle,  the  only  answer  that  I got  from 
him  was  that  he  had  not  drawn  out  his  account  owing  to  want 
of  time,  he  being  engaged  in  very  important  buisness;  that  he 
did  not  know  when  he  should,  perhaps  next  week,  or  the  week 
after  that,  he  must  first  post  up  his  Books,  etc. 

There  are  several  Gentlemen  of  the  Army  solicitous  to  get 
the  House,  among  others  Coll.  Wallcot,1  who  bears  a good 
Character,  has  a Wife  and  one  child,  he  is  to  see  the  House 
this  day.  I am  in  expectation  that  he  will  give  So£  L.  M.  for  it, 
as  he  wants  it  very  much.  Thus  at  present  stands  the  matter 
respect’g  Mr.  Green  and  his  house,  upon  his  Conduct  I shall 
not  remark,  to  you  it  wants  no  Comment.  I would  observe 
respecting  the  Barn  that  it  is  very  remarkable  that  he  should 
not  have  mentioned  the  matter  before  you  left  Boston,  espe- 
cially as  he  knew  long  before  what  rent  you  charged.  It  is  also 
worthy  of  notice  that  he  should  have  lent  the  Barn  to  several 
People,  perticularly  Coll.  Hancock,  to  keep  his  Chaise  in,  to 
Mr.  Fenno  to  keep  fowls  in,  to  Redman  for  the  same  use,  and 
his  constantly  calling  it  his  Barn.  I shall  pursue  the  matter 
1 William  Walcott,  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  5th  Regiment  of  Foot. 


1774 


232  Copley -Pelham  Letters 

with  him  till  I bring  him  to  some  explicit  Determination,  and 
shall  constantly  give  you  the  Earliest  Information  of  what 
passes,  and  should  be  glad  of  your  Advice  respecting  him,  as  I 
find  It  is  not  lik[e]ly  to  be  settled  soon  if  at  all.  I find  it  very 
difficult  collecting  money.  I have  not  yet  made  the  progress 
that  I could  wish  or  that  you  expected.  Coll.  Hancock  I have 
not  yet  been  able  to  gett  an  audience  of,  tho  he  is  so  well  as  to 
talk  of  Heading  his  Company  in  a few  Days.  I have  always  the 
misfortune  to  go  there  1 when  he  has  a Violent  Headack,  or 
when  he  is  laying  down.  I am  very  sorry  I have  not  collected 
money  eno  to  make  you  a Remittance,  but  hope  to  do  it  before 
you  have  Occasion  for  it.  I was  in  hopes  to  have  been  able  by 
this  time  to  inform  you  that  this  Town  was  restored  to  its 
former  flourishing  State.2  Rut  alas!  delusive  hope  still  spreads 
its  fascinateing  Charm  over  the  minds  of  a once  happy  but 
now  too  fatally  deluded  and  distressed  People.  A Congress 
of  the  Colonies  is  to  meet  at  Philadelphia  the  1st  of  Septem’r. 
This  and  the  large  assistance]  the  other  Colonies  affords  to  the 
Poor  of  this  place  keeps  up  their  Spirits,  and  has  hitherto  pre- 
vented the  Town  from  doing  any  one  thing  towards  a removal 
of  those  Difficulties,  which  sooner  or  later  will  be  most  severely 
felt.  Four  Regiment[s] 3 and  the  Artillery  are  quietly  encamped 
on  the  Common.  They  behave  very  peacebly  and  well.  The 
Common  wears  an  Entire  new  face.  Instead  of  the  peacefull 
Verdure  with  which  it  was  cloathd  when  you  left  it,  it  now 
glows  with  the  warlike  Red.  The  fireing  of  Cannon,  the  Rat- 
tling of  Drums,  the  music 4 of  the  fife,  now  interrupt  the  pleas- 
ing silence  which  once  rendered  it  so  peculiarly  deligh[t]full.  But 

1 Erased:  “(which  has  not  been  seldom).” 

2 First  draft:  “its  former  Reason.” 

3 Erased:  “two  Regiments.”  4 Erased:  “shrill.” 


I774 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


2 33 


still  all  this  Noise  all  this  confusion  are  incomparably  to  be  pre- 
fered  to  the  infernal  Wistle  and  shout  of  a lawless  and  outragious 
rabble.  The  strictest  discipline]  is  kept  up  in  the  Army  and  the 
greatest  order  preserved.  After  nine  oclock  in  the  Ev[en]ing 
there  is  not  a Soldier  to  be  seen  nor  a whisper  to  be  heard  in  the 
Camp,  Excepting  the  Centries.  The  solemn  League  and  Cove- 
nen[an]t  which  has  been  issued  out  by  our  Committe  of  Core- 
spondencfe],  and  for  Which  they  have  been  sever[e]ly  handled 
in  some  of  our  Papers,  I would  give  you  some  account  [of],  but 
It  would  exceed  the  Compass  of  my  Paper,  [and  would]  prob- 
ably be  as  disagreabl[e]  to  you  in  the  reading  as  it  would  be 
painfull  to  me  in  reciting.1 

I have  only  time  to  again  express  my  ardent  Wishes  that 
every  happyness  may  attend  you  and  to  assure  you  that  with  a 
grea[t]full  Since  of  your  Kindness  I remain  immutably  your 
affectionate  Brother, 

Henry  Pelham. 

P.  S.  I beg  you  would  present  my  affectionate  Regards  to 
Mr.  J.  Clarke,  of  whom  I entertain  the  most  pleasing  Remem- 
brance, and  to  whom  My  Mamma  desire[s]  her  Compliments. 
We  beg  you  would  write  soon  and  often.  A Gentleman,  a 
Captain  in  the  43  Regm.  told  me  yesterday  that  Sir  J.  Rey- 
nold^] said  to  Him  I would  give  iooo£  Str.  that  I could  paint 
white  equal  to  Mr.  Coply,  and  that  Mr.  West  told  him  that  he 
was  asshamed  to  have  one  of  your  Pictu[r]es  placed  by  his  as 
they  intirely  eclipsed  his  Performances.  I would  just  caution 
you  about  Coll.  Hall’s  Letters,  for  he  has  been  crasy  and  I 
beleive  is  not  now  intirely  well. 

1 It  was  framed  in  June  and  circulated  for  signatures.  Copies  are  in  the  Massa- 
chusetts Historical  Society’s  collection  of  broadsides. 


234 


Copley  -Pelham  Letters 


'll  \ 


Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

Dear  Harry, 

I have  sent  you  on  this  leaf  an  exact  plan  of  part  of  those  Iron 
fences  that  is  in  front  of  all  the  Houses  in  this  City,  that  in  case 
you  should  be  obliged  to  plan  one  for  Mr.  Green’s  house  you 
will  have  nothing  to  do  but  have  recourse  to  this,  for  I think  it 
will  be  strong  anough  if  the  pales  are  made  of  Oak  or  some  tuff 
wood,  with  the  Addition  of  thickness  to  the  peace  the  pales  go 
through  has  given  to  it,  in  the  Draught  which  I have  made  with 
Read  chalk,  by  this  you  will  see  that  it  is  only  the  hollow  I have 
marked  with  Chalk  that  you  may  know  what  my  addition  is, 
and  not  confound  it  with  what  I meant  to  give  you,  Viz.  the 
Iron  Fences  generally  used  here,  those  pales  are  about  five  foot 
high  to  the  poin[t]  at  the  top  from  the  Bottom;  the  bottom  is 
let  into  stones  which  are  neatly  laid  together,  and  ranged  so 
that  a peace  of  ranging  timber  of  about  9 Inches  broad  on  the 
Top  and  4 Inches  high  on  the  side  would  well  Imiatate,  as  I 
have  Sketched  on  the  inclosed  paper,  this  timber  will  not  be 
more  subjected  to  rott  than  the  cant  that  the  pales  are  incerted 
into  in  all  the  open  fences  in  your  Town.  I think  I like  to  have 
the  pales  all  of  a length,  and  those  here  drawn  are  a good  dis- 
tance from  each  other,  you  are  to  take  notice  about  every  18 
or  20th  or  at  highest  25th,  there  should  be  one  barr  larger, 
perhaps  ^ as  large  again.  I have  markd  it  with  Chalk,  mind  I 
do  not  mean  to  add  this  to  each  side : it  would  make  them  too 
thick.  They  must  have  some  support  as  drawn  in  the  plan, 
this  must  be  on  the  Inside  and  of  Iron,  and  not  thicker  at  most 
than  the  small  pales,  as  to  these  large  pales  the  house  must 
regulate  their  Distance  from  each  other  as  it  would  the  Posts  of 
a Piazza;  that  is,  one  opposite  each  peer,  or  any  way  that  they 


1774 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


235 


will  be  made  to  turn  out  regular,  if  you  should  think  oak  would 
be  strong  anough,  but  I think  it  will  not,  it  would  be  much 
Cheeper  than  Iron  for  the  braces  that  support  the  fence.  Cer- 
tain I am  all  the  other  parts  will  be  strong  anough  if  made  with 
Oak,  and  if  Mrs.  Copley  should  think  proper  to  have  any  fenc- 
ing done,  I should  chuse  it  exactly  of  this  kind,  I mean  front 
fence,  and  the  barrs  of  this  thickness,  as  to  the  hight  of  the 
fence  you  must  determin  by  the  eye  what  will  be  best;  and  the 
hollow  I have  added  (to  give  the  barr  through  which  the  pales 
pass,  more  strength)  I do  not  determin  the  size  of,  only,  I 
would  make  it  as  small  as  possable.  nothing  can  be  cheeper 
than  this  kind  of  Fence,  indeed  in  this  place  they  do  not  make 
any  object  of  their  fences,  if  they  are  sufficient  to  keep  Creat- 
ures out,  they  do  not  consider  the  fences  as  giveing  any  beauty 
to  their  building  or  gardends;  and  since  I have  been  in  this 
place  I have  not  seen  such  a thing  as  a showey  fence,  neighther 
in  town  or  Country.  But  I think  the  Post  and  the  Gateway 
must  be  about  io  or  12  Inches  thick,  and  only  about  6 Inches 
higher  than  the  pales  with  a flatt  peace  like  a Cap  on  the  top, 
as  I have  sketched  it  on  the  inclosed  plan,  this  fence  aught  to 
be  painted  a light  Lead  Colour,  all  but  the  Gatepost[s]  and 
Ranging  Tim[bers].  I think  should  you  exicute  a fence  of  this 
kind  you  could  not  mistake  any  part,  I have  been  so  exact.  I 
hope  if  you  must  do  Mr.  Green’s  you  will  follow  every  perticu- 
lar,  and  be  not  afraid  that  the  Stuff  will  be  weak  for  I am  sure 
of  its  sufficient  strength  and  its  neet  look.  I have  sent  you 
Colours  for  Painting  the  Houses,  and  Directed  them  by  this 
oppertunity  to  Mr.  Clarke  at  Salem.  I send  you  your  Cloaths 
and  fine  Colours,  pencils,  tools,  paper,  Chalk,  etc.  I shall  send 
them  under  the  care  of  Mr.  Wheatly,  who  will  see  that  you 
have  them.  I shall  put  them  in  one  box,  if  I can;  I inclose  a note 


236 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


I774 


of  them  altogether.  I cannot  give  you  any  perticular  Acc’t.  of 
the  things  that  I see  for  want  of  time,  you  perhaps  think  it 
strange  I should  want  time  when  I have  nothing  to  do,  but  I am 
constantly  imploy ’d  one  way  or  other,  and  find  so  much  Civility 
in  this  place  more  than  equil  to  all  I have  ever  received  in 
Boston  in  my  whole  life,  if  I except  what  a few  friends  have 
shewn  me,  which  I shall  ever  retain  a greatfull  remembrance  of. 
I shall  have  business  when  I can  engage  in  it.  several  have 
spoke  to  me,  but  I am  determined  not  to  do  any  till  my  return 
from  Italy,  for  any  one  less  than  the  King’s  or  Queen’s,  such  a 
thing  as  that  might  tempt  me  to  stay  a month  longer  than  my 
time.  Lord  Gage  has  been  very  polite  to  me,  and  on  my  return 
to  this  place  will  imploy  me.  he  would  have  done  it  now,  if  I 
had  been  willing  to  take  up  the  Pencil.  I dined  with  him  last 
week  and  was  very  much  urged  to  take  his  Country  house 1 in 
my  way  to  France  in  such  a manner  that  I am  constrained  to 
think  it  more  than  mere  compliment,  at  this  season  all  the 
Nobillity  is  out  of  Town,  so  that  I have  not  seen  many  of  them, 
and  this  End  of  the  Town  is  said  to  bee  quite  Dull,  though  I 
think  it  brisk  anough.  There  has  not  been  more  than  2 or  3 
Days  since  I came  here  that  I have  not  had  perticular  invita- 
tions to  Dine,  tho  it  is  now  3 weeks  since  I came  here  a stranger, 
many  persons  have  desired  Brother  Clarke  to  bring  me  to  Dine, 
tho  they  had  never  seen  me  nor  I them.  Mr.  West  when  I first 
came  would  have  had  me  to  lodge  at  his  House,  but  was  just 
prepaireng  to  move  to  his  New  house  and  could  not  accomodate 
me;  but  had  this  not  been  the  case  I should  have  declined  it; 

1 Furle  or  Firle,  in  Sussex.  “Lord  Gage  has  a noble  seat;  the  house  was  built 
by  a Sir  John  Gage  (in  the  reign  of  Henry  the  8th),  the  first  ancestor  of  whom  they 
have  any  memorial.  Of  him  there  is  a very  fine  picture.”  Diary  and  Letters  of 
Thomas  Hutchinson , 1.  223.  This  portrait  was  painted  by  Holbein.  On  Sir  John 
Gage,  see  Dictionary  of  National  Biography , xx.  351. 


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237 


but  he  desired  I would  always  come  to  dinner  when  I was  not 
ingaged,  with  the  same  freedom  as  I should  at  home,  indeed, 
he  is  extreemly  friendly  and  I am  under  great  obligations  to 
him.  I have  the  same  invitation  from  Mr.  Rook,  an  old 
Gentleman,  father  to  General  Gage’s  Aid  decamp;1  and  I assure 
you  those  are  not  mere  peaces  of  ceremony,  but  from  a real 
Desire  they  should  be  excepted  of.  so  I am  never  at  a loss,  tho 
I have  not  yet  improved  Mr.  Rook’s  general  invitation,  but 
when  I dined  there  the  last  week  he  made  me  promise  that  I 
would  come  the  first  Day  that  I was  not  ingaged,  and  that  I 
should  always  find  a Dinner  at  4 oClock,  and  when  I went  out, 
his  Son,  who  I think  a very  polite  Genteel  Man,  told  me  his 
Father  was  hurt  that  I had  not  gone  in  that  friendly  way  and 
taken  a Dinner  with  him  before,  and  that  it  would  give  him 
great  pleasure  if  I would  without  the  least  ceremoney,  and 
made  me  promise  that  I would  certainly  do  it.  I mention  this 
so  perticular  to  show  you  how  friendly  those  people  are  into 
whose  acquaintance  I have  fallen,  and  that  when  they  had 
made  a Dinner,  they  do  not  think  it  a trouble  they  are  glad  to 
have  done  with,  but  wish  to  see  me  with  a friendly  freedom  that 
precludes  all  suspision  of  incincerity,  or  mere  ceremonial  com- 
plisance.  you  cannot  Immagine  how  much  it  adds  to  my 
pleasure  having  Brother  Clarke  here;  he  is  so  used  to  the  place 
that  I am  already  allmost  inneciated  into  all  the  manners  and 
Customs  of  the  City.  Yesterday  I dined  with  Gov’r  Hutchin- 
son, and  I think  there  was  12  of  us  altoge[the]r,  and  all  Bos- 
tonians, and  we  had  Choice  Salt  Fish  for  Dinner.2  I have  not 
yet  been  able  to  see  your  Aunt,3  for  I beleive  I shall  be  obliged 

1 Harry  Rooke,  a captain  in  the  52c!  Regiment. 

2 He  had  already  dined  with  Hutchinson  on  July  30.  Diary  and  Letters  of 
Thomas  Hutchinson , 1.  198. 

8 Helena  Pelham  was  living  at  Chichester  at  this  time. 


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to  go  on  purpose  to  Chichester.  I am  very  sorry  you  did  not 
give  me  a Direction  by  which  I might  have  seen  the  person  that 
transacts  her  business,  you  intended  it  but  forgot  it.  however, 
I will  do  the  best  I can.  remember  me  in  the  most  tender  and 
Affectionate  manner  to  my  Dear  Mother.  I intend  if  possable 
writing  to  her  by  this  Vessell.  Love  to  Brother  and  Sister  Pel- 
ham, and  All  others  as  they  stand  connected,  and  beleive  me 
your  Affectionate  Brother, 

J.  S.  Copley. 

London,  August  5,  1774. 

Nathaniel  Hatch  to  Henry  Pelham 
Sir, 

Be  so  good  to  let  the  Bearer  have  a sight  of  your  plan,  in 
order  to  lay  out  the  street  called  Sewall  street  through  Captn. 
Erving’s  ground,1  which  he  has  consented  to.2  I am  your  most 
Obet.  Servt. 

Nathl.  Hatch. 

Boston,  15  Augt.,  ’74. 

Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

London,  Augst.  17,  1774. 

Dear  Brother, 

This  Evening  I devote  to  you  and  Mrs.  Copley.  I shall  there- 
fore not  write  you  a long  Letter,  as  the  evenings  are  very  short 
and  it  is  now  time  to  go  to  bed.  you  will  perhaps  think  it 
strange  I did  not  give  some  of  the  Day  to  this  business,  but 
you  have  no  Idea  how  time  is  filled  up  in  this  great  City.  I get 

1 John  Erving,  whose  property  lay  between  Copley’s  and  George  Street. 

2 Sewall  Street,  thirty-five  feet  wide,  was  laid  out  from  George  or  Belknap, 
now  Joy  Street,  to  Coventry,  now  Walnut  Street.  It  ran  through  Sewall’s  “Elm 
Pasture”  and  the  Copley  property.  The  street  was  discontinued  at  an  early  date. 


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239 


up  in  the  mom’g,  dress,  go  out  see  such  a variety  of  objects, 
that  the  Day  is  spent  before  it  seems  well  begun.  I am  invited 
to  dine  allmost  every  Day.  since  the  Day  I arrived  in  this  place 
not  more  than  three  or  four  Days  has  passed  that  I have  not 
had  a perticular  invitation  to  Dine,  and  from  Mr.  West  and 
Mr.  Rooke  I have  a general  invitation  at  all  times  that  I am 
not  otherwise  ingaged.  I am  fallen  into  a much  larger  Circle  of 
acquaintance  than  I could  have  expected,  at  this  season  all  the 
Nobillity  are  out  of  Town,  or  I should  no  doubt  be  known  to 
more  of  them  than  I am  at  present.  I have  been  treated  with 
great  politeness  by  Lord  Gage.  Lord  Grovesnor  has  been  very 
polite  to  me,  also.  I dined  with  him  last  Sunday  week,  at  his 
house  in  Town,  the  next  Day  he  went  into  the  Country.  Lord 
Gage  is  also  gone  to  his  seat  at  bright  Hamsted,  where  his 
Lordship  pressed  me  to  go  in  my  way  to  France,  he  told  me  the 
stage  came  within  4 miles  of  his  seat,  and  if  I would  write  him 
a line  to  acquaint  him  with  the  time  I should  be  there,  he 
would  send  a Servant  to  fetch  my  baggage  and  desired  I would 
bring  any  Gentleman  I might  have  as  a companion  in  my  Tour, 
to  his  house,  there  is  a great  deal  of  Manly  politeness  in  the 
English,  there  is  somthing  so  open  and  undisguized  in  them  that 
I can  truly  say  exceeds  rather  than  falls  short  of  my  expecta- 
tion. Sr.  Thos.  Rich  is  married,  he  came  to  Town  a few  Days 
ago  and  called  on  me.  on  mon[day]  I breakfasted  with  him 
went  to  see  some  Pictures  and  than  Dined  with  him  on  the 
same  Day.  To  Morrow  I have  an  invitation  to  breakfast  with 
Sr.  Joshua  Reynolds,  than  go  with  him  to  see  the  Ceiling  of 
White  Hall,  Dine  with  a Mr.  Watson,  etc.,  etc.  I menshon  this 
to  give  you  some  Idea  of  the  politeness  of  my  Friends  in  this 
place  and  the  manner  of  my  Life  while  I am  thus  Idle : I might 
have  begun  several  Pictures  if  it  would  have  consisted  with  my 


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plan,  but  I must  see  Italy  first.  I am  therefore  determined  not 
to  take  anyone  subject  the  King  has  got  till  I visit  that  place, 
if  nothing  meterial  should  prevent  me  I shall  very  soon  leave 
this  place.  I wish  I could  have  a letter  from  you  first.  Sukey 
says  in  one  I have  had  from  her  that  you  wrote  by  the  same 
oppertunity,  but  it  has  not  come  to  hand,  you  must  Direct  to 
be  left  at  the  New  England  Coffee  House.  I suppose  you 
expect  I should  say  somthing  on  the  Pictures  I have  seen,  but 
the  field  is  so  large  I cannot  yet  begin  it.  I see  so  much  that  it 
is  impossable  to  know  where  to  begin,  but  do  you  go  on  as  you 
are  in  your  practice;  but  observe  one  peice  of  advice,  to  turn  as 
much  as  possable  Delicate  Womens  faces  so  as  to  have  as  little 
shade  on  them  as  may  be.  dont  make  it  faint,  but  let  it  fall 
from  the  front  of  the  face  into  those  parts  of  less  importance,  as 
you  will  find  it  in  Bentivoglio’s  portrait,  and  I think  it  is  so  in 
Mrs.  Sidley’s  Picture  at  Capt.  Phillips’s,  which  by  the  way  I 
believe  the  face  to  be  painted  by  Van  Dyck’s  hand  by  what  I 
have  seen  here.  I would  have  you  very  carefull  to  preserve  as 
much  as  possable  broad  lights  and  shadows,  only  turn  the  face 
so  that  it  shall  be  all  aluminated,  or  as  much  so  as  possable. 
at  the  same  time  let  the  shade  fall  some  where  else,  what  if  you 
should  try  somthing  for  an  Exhibition  ? I would  have  you  also 
observe  to  get  into  your  Picture  an  hew  of  Colours  that  is 
rather  gay  than  otherwise,  at  the  same  time  rich  and  warm  like 
Bentivoglios.  but  be  carefull  that  you  intersperse  some  cool 
Colours  of  the  Green  and  white  with  yellow,  etc.,  so  as  to  give 
it  the  Colouring  (when  the  whole  mass  of  the  Picture  is  taken 
together)  of  the  Rainbow  and  be  carefull  as  you  go  towards  the 
bottum  of  your  Canvis  to  mannage  your  objects  that  they  do 
not  take  the  eye.  Scumble  them  down  so  that  when  you  Vew 
the  Picture  the  Center  shall  predominate.  I think  in  Diana’s 


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241 


figure  in  your  Room  you  have  an  Example,  observe  her  leggs 
how  they  seem  to  run  out  of  observation,  from  her  head  and 
breast  Downwards  how  gradually  her  figure  seems  to  lose  it 
self,  but  I must  wish  you  a good  night,  in  the  Morn’g  I will  add 
a little  more  if  I can.1  I would  send  you  Sir  Josha.  Reynolds’s 
Lectures  if  I was  sure  you  had  not  them;  but  if  you  have  not 
they  are  well  worth  your  possesing.  I think  them  the  best 
things  of  their  kind  that  has  been  wrote,  in  my  next  I will  send 
you  a receipt  for  making  a retouching  Varnish,  and  wish  you 
to  send  mine  for  making  Spirit  Varnish  by  the  next  oppertunity. 
I have  not  seen  your  Aunt,  but  shall  to  morrow  write  to  her  and 
send  your  letter.  I am  sorry  you  did  not  give  me  a Direction  to 
the  Person  that  transacts  her  business.  She  lives  72  Miles  from 
this  and  I have  been  loath  to  take  such  a tour  unless  I could 
take  it  in  my  way  to  somthing  else  at  the  same  time,  however 
I will  write  and  shall  hear  from  her  no  doubt  in  a few  Days.  I 
will  not  neglect  your  Interest  any  more  than  my  own  and  hope 
you  remember  what  I left  in  Charge  with  y[ou]  and  will  conduct 
your  self  agreable  to  it.  I have  your  well  being  as  much  at 
heart  as  you  can  possable  have  it  yourself,  be  very  Active, 
Study  incessantly,  and  practice  continually,  and  you  will  find 
your  advantage,  remember  it  is  [not?]  anough  to  be  a painter; 
you  must  be  conspecuous  in  the  Croud  if  you  would  be  happy 
and  great,  and  you  must  learn  to  rid  off  work.  Inclosed  is  some 
Acct.  which  you  will  take  care  of.  I have  not  been  able  to  write 
to  our  Dear  Mother  but  will  do  it  soon,  tho  I consider  my  Let- 
ters to  you  the  same  thing  only  differing  in  name.  I beg  she 
will  accept  my  most  Affectionate  Duty  and  Love.  I am,  Dear 
Harry,  your  Affct.  Brother, 

J.  S.  Copley. 

1 The  handwriting  changes. 


2\2 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


I774 


Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

London,  Augt.  25,  1774. 

Dear  Brother, 

Please  to  send  enclosed  to  Gov.  Hutchinson  the  drawing  I 
took  of  him  with  a pencil  some  years  since,  you  may  if  you 
please  keep  a copy  of  it. 

I shall  set  out  in  about  four  hours  for  Brighthemstone  and 
from  thence  take  shipg.  for  Diepe  in  France  etc.,  etc.  God  bless 
you.  Your  affect.  Brother, 

John  Singleton  Copley. 

Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

Paris,  Sepr.  2d,  1774. 

My  Dear  Harry, 

I have  now  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  of  my  safe  arrival  in 
this  City  that  I am  in  Spirits,  am  grown  much  fatter  than  you 
have  ever  seen  me.  I know  not  how  it  happens,  but  I beleive 
there  is  somthing  in  the  Air  of  France  that  accilerates  or  quick- 
ens the  Circulation  of  the  fluids  of  the  Human  Body,  for  I 
already  feel  half  a Frenchman  in  this  respect.  I left  London  on 
the  26  of  Augst.  and  reached  Bright  Helmstone  in  the  Evening 
of  the  same  Day,  and  was  there  detained  by  bad  weather  till 
the  29th,  when  I and  my  companion  imbarked  on  board  one 
of  the  Packets,  and  in  about  1 1 hours  we  arrived  at  Dieppe  in 
Normandy,  from  thence  we  set  out  Imediately  and  reached 
Torst 1 at  noon,  from  thence  to  Rouen  where  we  Slept.  Rouen 
is  the  Capital  of  Normandy,  and  you  might  expect  I should 
give  you  some  account  of  it;  but  we  did  not  reach  it  till  dusk, 
and  at  four  oClock  the  next  morning  left  it  to  pursue  our  rout, 
so  I can  only  say  the  Streets  are  so  narrow  and  the  buildings  so 

1 Totes. 


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Copley -Pelham  Letters 


243 


high,  all  of  Wood  and  in  the  Gothic  or  rather  no  stile,  that  in 
passing  through  the  streets  it  seem’d  like  going  through  an 
Arch,  for  the  Houses  seem  almost  to  meet  at  their  Tops  their 
oposites;  But  we  pushed  on  our  Way,  resolved  to  lose  no  time 
and  reached  Vaudrieul 1 to  Breakfast,  and  for  the  first  time 
missed  the  Tea.  we  were  served  with  Eggs,  Chese,  and  Wine, 
etc.  from  this  place  we  went  on  to  Gaijon 2 where  we  dined  in 
the  true  French  stile,  or  we  would  have  Dined  if  we  could;  but 
the  Victuals  was  so  badly  Dressed  that  even  Frenchmen  com- 
plained of  it.  however  this  did  not  move  us  in  the  least,  we 
went  on  after  Diner  to  Vernon,  there  made  a short  Stop,  thence 
to  Bonnieres,  where  we  had  a good  Supper  and  good  Beds. 
We  now  live  altogether  in  the  French  Stile.  Deserts  are 
broughft]  after  meals  as  regular  as  the  Table  is  laid,  at  4 
oClock  next  morning  we  went  on  to  Roboise,3  from  thence  to 
Mentes,4  than  to  Meaulen  5 where  we  dined,  than  began  our 
last  Stage  to  this  Great  City  where  we  arrived  in  the  afternoon, 
we  passed  many  Towns  which  would  be  tedious  to  mention,  all 
Normandy  through  which  we  passed  is  very  fertile  and  full  of 
delightfull  Landscapes.  The  hills  are  covered  with  Vines.  I 
think  from  Normandy  to  Paris  not  so  rich  a Country,  though 
it  is  rendered  more  butifull  by  the  many  Towns  and  Seats  that 
are  interspersed  through  out  it,  and  the  fine  River  Siene,  by 
which  we  rode  many  miles,  adds  much  to  the  beauty  as  well  as 
convenience  of  the  place.  We  provided  a Knife  and  fork  for  our 
Pockets  before  we  left  London,  for  the  People  always  Carry  a 
knife  about  them  in  this  Country,  so  none  are  laid  on  any 
Table.  Wine  is  drank  out  of  Tumblers;  but  you  must  know 
those  French  Wines  are  not  so  strong  as  our  Cyder,  no  other 
liquor  except  a little  Warter  is  drank  sometimes  mingled  with 

1 Vaudreuil.  2 Gaillon.  3 Rolleboise.  4 Manset.  6 Meulan. 


244 


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*774 


Wine.  The  Peaches  are  Very  good  in  this  Country  and  very 
plenty.  We  are  now  in  very  Clean  Lodgings  in  this  place,  which 
we  reached  the  1st  of  Sepr.  I beleive  you  will  think  we  made 
Dispatch  to  go  from  London  to  Paris  in  4 Days  and  3 Nights 
which  we  did,  allowing  for  3 Days  detention  by  bad  Weither. 
This  Day  my  first  in  this  place,  I have  seen  the  Church  of  St. 
Sulpice.  it  is  rather  grand  from  its  quantity  than  the  Eliganc 
of  proportion,  and  the  Pallais  Royalle,  in  which  I saw  a very 
fine  Collection  of  Paintings,  and  this  Evening  went  to  the 
Opera,  the  Subject  was  Orpheus  serching  for  his  Wife  in  the 
Infernal  Regions.  I was  much  entertained ; tho  a strainger  to 
the  Language,  the  Musick  Charmed  me.  but  it  now  grows  late, 
so  wish  you  a good  repose  and  an  earley  attention  to  business  in 
the  morng.,  and  a Care  to  Cultivate  your  knowledge  of  the 
Languages,  this  will  make  your  future  Life  happyer  than  any 
thing  in  this  World,  do  let  me  from  my  own  feelings  intreat 
of  you  not  to  Idle,  or  misapply,  one  moment,  for  they  are  Inn- 
estimiable.  I feel  what  I Now  write  and  Injoy  the  effects  of 
my  application  in  such  a manner  as  no  words  can  express;  and 
this  you  will  feel  yourself  if  you  will  purchase  it  with  Industry, 
as  I know  you  may  and  you  have  a pleasure  above  me  in  having 
such  a foundation  for  the  Languages  which  will  be  of  great 
use  to  you  when  you  come  abroad,  my  wishes  for  your  happi- 
ness carrys  me  beyond  my  intention  at  this  time,  but  it  is  so 
momentious  a thing  to  you  that  I could  not  excuse  myself,  if 
I should  let  any  time  pass  before  I pressed  it  on  you ; lest  by  my 
delay  some  of  those  precious  moments  might  be  lost  that  this 
earley  advice  might  have  saved,  let  me  just  recommend  to  you 
to  keep  the  faces  of  your  portraits,  perticularly  your  Weomens, 
as  Clear  of  Shade  as  possable,  and  make  broad  Masses  of  Lights 
and  shade,  practice  continually.  Draw  Landscapes,  Dogs, 


1774 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


245 


Cats,  Cows,  horses,  in  short  I would  have  you  keep  in  your 
Pocket  a book  and  Porto  Crayon  — as  I now  do  — and  where 
ever  you  see  a butifull  form  Sketch  it  in  your  Book,  by  this 
you  will  habituate  your  Self  to  fine  formes.  I have  got  through 
the  Dificultys  of  the  Art,  I trust,  and  shall  reap  a continual 
Source  of  pleasure  from  my  past  Industry  a§.  long  as  it  pleases 
God  to  give  me  health  and  life,  but  yet  I lament  I had  not 
saved  more  of  my  time  than  I have  done,  you  have  it  now  be- 
fore you  and  if  you  are  determined  you  will  accomplish  it. 
Study  those  Works  of  Raphael  which  you  can  procure,  the 
Cartoons  in  perticular.  Draw  them  not  in  a finished  manner, 
but  to  habituate  yourself  to  the  manner  of  combineing  your 
figures.  I trust  you  will  take  this  in  a manly  manner  and  feel 
its  force.  I write  under  a Kind  of  impu[l]se,  and  would  per- 
swade  you  from  inactivity  as  I would  a near  friend  from  plung- 
ing  into  certain  destruction.  Adieu,  good  night.  I again  take  up 
the  Subject  (this  morning)  of  my  Observations  on  what  I see 
in  this  place  and  hope  you  will  excuse  my  long  digression,  as  I 
think  it  is  so  important  to  your  happiness.  I shall  return  to  the 
Pallais  Royalle,  which  We  saw  yester  Day  or  2d  Sepr.  In  this 
Pallais  there  is  a very  great  Collection  of  Pictures  by  various 
Masters,  some  very  fine,  some  indilferant,  some  bad.  In  the 
Chamber  of  Poussins  are  his  seven  Scacraments.  the  prints 
you  have  seen  in  Mr.  Palmer’s  Vollumn  of  Italian  Masters, 
they  are  very  Dark,  much  more  so  than  his  Scipeo  at  Smibert’s, 
and  about  the  same  size  of  that,  these  are  however  esteemed 
his  best  Works,  but  I should  have  liked  them  better  if  they  had 
been  coloured  in  a more  brilliant  manner,  he  has  been  som- 
times  very  beautifull  in  his  colours,  light  and  warm  in  his 
Shawdows  somthing  resembling  the  Light  of  the  Sun,  his 
Shadows  broad  sharp  and  transparent,  you  possess  an  Accad- 


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I774 


emy  figure  or  two  much  stumpt.  I think  there  is  two  on  one 
paper,  one  on  each  side,  much  in  his  manner  of  treating  his 
figures,  you  cannot  mistake  them,  as  you  have  none  like  them, 
one  of  them  I think  is  puling  a rope  or  in  such  an  action;  add 
to  this  kind  of  musseling  the  colour  of  Shade  you  see  in  the 
Camera  which  are  in  some  parts  very  blew,  in  some  a kind 
of  readish  or  sandy  tint.  The  out  lines  of  his  figures  are  not 
blended  with  the  ground,  but  Sharp  and  determined,  his 
expression  is  charming,  his  Men,  Weomen,  and  Children, 
laugh,  Cry,  Grieve,  and  indeed  express  all  the  passion  of  the 
Soul  surpriseingly  well.  I would  have  you  draw  some  of  his 
heads,  that  you  may  lern  of  what  forms  and  Lines  they  are 
composed.  I wish  I could  convey  to  you  a more  perfect  Idea 
of  what  I see,  but  study  the  Camera  for  human  figures  and  in 
short  every  Peice  of  Nature  if  possable,  and  you  will  go  on  in 
the  way  you  are  in  and  Diligence  will  make  you  an  Artist,  as 
you  proceed  invent  Historical  Subjects,  possess  Sr.  Josa. 
Renolds  lectures  as  soon  as  you  can,  — some  of  the  Book 
Deallers  will  send  for  them  for  you  — and  they  will  tell  you  how 
to  proceed  in  the  management  of  those  great  Subjects.  I dont 
mean  to  alter  your  pursuit  in  portraits,  but  you  aught  to  be 
capable  of  treating  every  Subject,  you  have  some  Drawings] 
of  Albonius’s  in  bister  which  show  how  much  is  to  be  done 
from  Imagination,  only  when  you  have  got  thus  far,  the  Life 
is  to  be  made  use  of  for  hands,  feet,  heads  and  for  each  figure 
Drapery  sett  on  the  Layman,  broad  and  eligant.  in  this  Way 
you  make  your  finishd  Drawing,  which  when  done  the  Diffi- 
culty is  over.  There  is  several  Titians  in  this  collection,  but 
shall  forbear  remarking  on  them  till  I see  others  that  I am  sure 
will  give  me  a just  Idea  of  his  merrit  in  all  respects.  I am  your 
Affecte.  Brother,  j.  S.  Copley. 


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Copley -Pelham  Letters 


247 


Robert  Hooper  to  [. P . Thomas ?] 

Call  on  Mr.  Copeleys  Brother  up  above  the  Orange  tree,  and 
desire  him  to  put  my  son  Stephens  Picture  into  this  Case  and 
bring  it  without  fail. 

Rob  Hooper.1 

Endorsed:  Receid.  the  within 

P.  Thomas,  Boatman, 

Sepbr.  s,  [1774?] 

Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

Paris,  Sepr.  7,  1774. 

My  Dear  Harry, 

I was  obliged  to  break  off  my  last  Letter  somwhat  abruptly 
as  I found  the  Post  was  to  go  sooner  than  I expected,  and  I was 
loath  you  should  miss  of  the  most  earley  inteligence  of  my  safe 
arrival  in  this  place  and  of  my  health.  I have  given  you  the 
best  Idea  in  my  power  of  the  Works  of  Poussin  which  I saw  on 
the  2d  Sepr.  the  same  Day  and  in  the  same  collection  I saw 
many  of  the  Works  of  Raphael,  Corregio,  Titian,  Paul  Ver- 
onese, Guido,  etc.,  but  as  I do  not  think  I have  yet  seen  their 
most  perfect  Works  I shall  suspend  my  remarks  upon  them 
till  I have  that  pleasure.  I do  not  think  it  is  important  to  send 
you  catalogues  of  the  Pictures  I see,  but  such  an  account  of  the 
Masters  as  will  give  you  the  best  Idea  of  their  Works  in  General 
and  their  merrit.  as  I write  to  one  who  has  not  seen  any  Works 
of  Art  I shall  indeavour  to  adapt  my  Language  to  answer  that 
end  in  the  most  effectual  manner.  In  my  way  to  the  Palace 
Royalle  I stoped  at  the  Church  of  Notre  Dame  where  I saw 
many  Paintings,  and  much  Sculpter.  the  Church  is  a very 
1 Of  Marblehead,  and  known  as  “King  Hooper.” 


248  Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1774 


beautifull  Pile  of  Gothick  Architecture,  and  perticularly  men- 
shoned  by  Mr.  Addisson.  it  was  founded  by  Robert  one  of  the 
Kings  of  France  in  a.d.  1010,  but  a perticular  disscription  of 
every  peice  of  Art  would  take  up  too  much  time.  I shall  only 
mention  one  peice  of  Sculpter  which  I think  very  fine.  It  is  the 
Alter  behind  the  High  Alter,  it  is  in  form  of  a Niche  and  com- 
posed of  four  Figures;  in  the  middle  sits  the  blessed  Virgin 
Looking  towards  Heaven  with  an  Air  of  Holy  Grief,  if  you  will 
allow  me  the  expression,  her  Arms  extended,  her  Drapery  flow- 
ing, and  supporting  on  her  Lap  the  head  and  part  of  the  Body 
of  a dead  Christ,  the  Christ  lays  partly  on  the  Ground  and  is 
very  fine,  behind  is  the  Cross  from  which'  the  Christ  has  been 
taken  down,  with  a flowing  peace  of  Linen  hanging  over  it 
which  makes  the  whole  more  pleasing  in  its  form  than  it  would 
have  been  without  this  continuation  of  the  Mass  of  Art.  it 
plays  off  from  the  Group  and  as  a flame  loses  it  self  insensably 
first  into  a readish  soft  colour  than  tapers  into  many  serpentine 
streaming  points  and  gently  steals  unperceived  into  reaths  of 
Smoke,  so  in  this  manner  the  mass  is  melted  away.  And 
observe,  all  lights  in  Pictures  aught  so  to  be  mannaged.  the  first 
great  ligh[t]  ought  to  be  followed  by  some  suxceeding  ones  less 
powerful  than  the  first  that  let  the  eye  off  by  gentle  degrees, 
this  is  effected  by  Colours  as  well  as  lights  and  shades,  for 
instance  read  Will  lead  the  eye  from  bright  yellow,  and  black 
from  Read,  Green  from  White,  etc.,  etc.  but  to  return  to  the 
Alter,  on  one  side  is  a figur  of  an  Angel  Kneeling,  his  Wings 
partly  extended,  holding  the  Crown  of  thorns  in  his  hand, 
another  Angel  on  the  other  side  supports  the  hand  of  Christ, 
there  is  a great  sublimity  of  expression  in  the  whole  Group,  the 
heads  perticularly  that  of  Christ  is  very  lovely  and  of  a divine 
carractor  perhaps  not  to  be  surpassed  by  any  thing  in  Art. 


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249 


This  Group  is  of  white  marble  much  larger  than  the  life  and 
exicuted  by  Coustoux  the  Elder;  in  1723.  In  this  Church  is 
the  Royal  Vault.1  There  is  many  Paintings  by  Cheron,2  Ant. 
Coypal,  etc.,  as  large  or  larger  than  life,  but  I do  not  mean  to 
give  catalogues  of  the  Pictures,  for  it  would  be  an  endless 
thing,  and  tend  but  little  to  your  profit,  my  intention  is  to  give 
you  as' just  an  Idea  of  the  Works  of  the  first  Master[s]  as  I pos- 
sably  can  without  giving  the  Carracter  of  those  that  are  infe- 
rior. nor  shall  I labour  to  Discribe  perticular  Pictures  even  of 
the  first  Masters,  unless  it  is  some  of  exalted  Merrit,  such  as 
the  Transfiguration,  for  this  reason  I shall  not  say  any  thing 
of  Coypal  or  his  works,  nor  shall  I observe  on  Lebrun  till  my 
return  to  France  for  his  Capital  Works  are  at  Versails  which  I 
shall  not  Vissit  till  my  return  from  Italy.  But  I will  endeavour 
to  convey  to  you  a just  Idea  of  Raphael  from  the  body  of  his 
best  works  taken  collectively,  the  same  of  M.  Angelo,  Cor- 
regio,  etc.  I have  now  inform’d  you  of  my  plan  and  shall  pro- 
ceed without  more  preface,  there  is  Building  in  this  City  a 
Colledge  for  Surgions.  I think  this  will  be  a very  beautifull 
building,  there  is  a fine  Corinthian  Portico  Wonderfully  beau- 
tifull. in  the  Pidiment  is  a fine  Bass  releif  of  Sergery  joining 
hands  with  learning  cross  an  Alter,  on  one  side  some  boys 
bringing  forward  Books,  etc.,  on  the  other  another  group 
of  boys  inspecting  a4  Dead  body,  the  whole  is  built  of  free 
Stone. 

Sepr.  3d.  Vissited  the  Luxemberg.  this  Gallery  is  intirely 
Painted  by  Rubens,  but  I think  the  Pictures  very  unequel  in 
merrit.  you  have  seen  the  prints;  they  give  you  the  design,  so  I 
shall  not  enlarge  on  that;  only  observe,  that  it  is  of  a great  car- 

1 Erased:  “In  it  will  be  depossited  in  a few  Days  the  body  of  the  late  King.” 

2 Cheron. 


250  Copley -Pelham  Letters  1774 


ractor.  you  must  take  notice  how  he  combines  his  objects,  with 
what  an  easey  flowing  out  line  he  Draws  his  figures,  smooth  and 
easey  as  the  flow  of  Homer’s  Verse,  all  this  you  have  before 
you,  but  you  have  not  the  colouring,  it  is  very  brilliant,  rich 
and  tender,  when  you  vew  Poussins  Sippeo  you  must  have 
observed  one  general  tint  runing  over  the  whole  Picture,  as  if 
the  Painter  when  his  work  was  done  had  immersed  it  in  a 
brown  Varnish,  but  when  you  see  one  of  Rubens’s  you  cannot 
say  his  Picture  is  of  any  one  Colour,  so  happily  has  he  divided 
his  Colours  over  his  Picture,  that  it  is  neither  read,  blue,  yellow, 
or  Green,  but  one  agreable  whole,  pertakeing  of  many  tints  so 
well  proportioned  to  each  other  that  none  predominates.  The 
head  at  Mrs.  Hancocks  give[s]  you  a tolerable  Idea  of  his  men’s 
flesh,  only  I think  it  a little  too  Raw.  When  he  paints  a River 
God,  or  Satire,  Or  an  old  man,  such  as  Lot  in  the  Picture  you 
have,  he  colours  the  flesh  very  yellow  and  makes  the  half  tints 
very  green,  these  carractors  I think  he  makes  a litt[l]e  of  the 
Gumbouge  copperry  Colour,  in  the  Dark  shadows  of  those 
complections  he  puts  almost  pure  Vermilion,  expecially  if  a 
Read  Drapefry]  should  come  in  contact  with  it.  I think  the 
Shoulders  and  back  of  Pan  in  the  Pan  and  Sirinks  at  Mr.  Char- 
don’s  comes  neigher  the  mark  than  any  I can  think  of;  only  if  I 
remember  right  the  tints  in  that  are  more  Grey  and  broken  than 
Rubens’s  and  darker.  I beleive  those  figures  in  the  Deluge  at 
Mr.  Chardon,  I mean  the  Group  that  is  most  principal,  that  is 
clambering  up  the  bank,  may  come  nearer  the  mark  than  pan, 
especially  if  a little  yellow  is  added  to  the  tints.  Rubens  is  very 
carefull  not  to  let  any  part  of  his  Pictures  look  sad  or  heavy, 
nor  does  he  make  them  gaudy,  but  brilliant  Clear  and  har- 
monious. his  Weoman  are  very  clear,  but  I know  not  what  to 
refer  you  to  by  which  you  will  form  to  yourself  the  Idea  I wish 


1774 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


25l 


to  convey  to  you.  I think  the  head  of  Bentavoglios  comes  the 
nearest  to  it.  he  seems  to  me  to  have  mixt  his  tints  first  very 
clean  and  Rich  in  colour,  than  to  have  lay’d  on  his  lights  as  they 
were  mixed  on  his  pallet,  than  the  next  pure  tint  in  like  man- 
ner and  all  the  little  musseling  in  the  light  parts  of  the  body 
is  only  express’d  by  tints  somthing  reader,  avoiding  the  gray 
tints,  he  only  darkens  with  read  those  soft  mussels  and  lines 
that  fall  in  the  mass  of  Light,  even  the  extremitys  next  the 
back  ground  ar[e]  carried  off  as  much  as  possable  by  those  clear 
Readish  tints.  I mean  on  the  light  side  of  his  figures,  for  when 
he  carrys  his  flesh  into  the  shade,  his  first  tint,  after  he  leaves 
the  pure  carnation  or  the  second  tint  above  menshoned,  he  lays 
on  one  that  pertakes  of  the  blew,  than  follows  his  warm  shade, 
but  observe,  the  Demi  or  blew  tint  must  be  so  far  rendered 
harmonious  by  pertakeing  of  the  Read  and  yellow  that  it  makes 
an  agreable  whole.  I think  when  he  comes  to  the  feet  and  hands 
he  seems  loath  to  Dray  the  fingers  or  Toes  but  scumbles  them 
as  much  as  possable  in  to  a readish  mass,  this  management  is 
esspecially  in  his  feet,  tho  somewhat  so  in  his  hands  or  rather 
fingers,  the  head  of  the  Nimph  in  your  Picture  of  Dianna  has 
a great  deal  of  this  management,  I mean  her  in  the  fore 
Ground,  he  never  divides  the  Toes  by  any  Dark  lines  so  that 
when  you  are  near  the  Picture  you  can  scarcely  make  them  out. 
The  tone  of  his  flesh,  take  an  whole  figure  together,  of  one  of 
his  Weomen,  and  it  is  full  and  rich,  about  as  much  so  as  the 
head  of  Vandyck  at  Mrs.  Hancocks. 

I think  it  would  be  worth  your  while  to  paint  a Picture 
from  one  of  his  prints  to  try  the  effect  from  this  Acct.  of  his 
Colours.  I would  further  add  that  when  the  musling  is  so  deep 
that  read  would  Appear  too  flaming  and  make  the  flesh 
look  fleed,  he  puts  between  the  read  in  the  bottum  of  the 


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*774 


hollows  and  the  Second  tint  above  menshoned  the  blewish 
tint,  this  keeps  the  mass  of  flesh  soft  and  harmonious  in  its 
Whole  body. 

Sepr.  4.  Vissited  the  Church  of  St.  Roch,  Hospital  for  Inva- 
lids, Place  Victoire,  the  Collisee,  etc.,  etc.  I saw  many  paint- 
ings and  much  Sculptor,  but  shall  pass  them  without  any 
perticular  remarks,  as  I can  say  nothing  that  I think  will  be 
important  to  you.  only  that  the  Chappel  in  the  above  Hos- 
pital is  a most  Magnificent  peace  of  Architector.  the  Richness 
as  well  as  purity  of  Stile  is  amasing.  I shall  now  end  my  Letter 
to  you  — I beleive  you  think  it  a pretty  long  one  — unless  som- 
thing  should  occur  to  fill  the  paper  before  I send  it  off. 

Sepr.  7.  I have  just  returned  from  takeing  a second  Vew  of 
the  Luxembourg  where  I and  my  friend  spent  the  afternoon, 
and  I find  my  above  observations  all  confirmed  with  respect 
to  Rubens’s  colouring,  only  that  somtimes,  he  has  thrown  some 
little  dashes  of  blewish  tint  (to  take  off  a rawness  that  might 
otherwise  arrise).  I mean  in  the  Light  masses  of  his  flesh,  he 
has  been  however  very  sparing  of  all  but  the  pure  Carnation. 
Mr.  Carter  thinks  this  Account  I have  given  you  is  so  just  that 
it  is  equel  to  your  seeing  the  Pictures,  and  that  you  cannot  mis- 
take his  Colouring,  the  Day  after  tomorrow  we  set  out  for 
Lions,  you  cannot  imagine  the  pleasure  that  this  Tour  affcards 
me,  but  I miss  the  Language  extreemly.  I find  was  my  stay 
here  any  length  of  time,  I mean  2 or  3 Months,  I should  pos- 
sess a great  Deal  of  it.  but  Adieu,  Dear  Harry,  and  believe  me 
yours, 


J.  S.  Copley. 


1774 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


253 


Copley  to  his  mother 

Paris,  8th  of  Sepr.,  1774. 

Dear  and  Ever  Hond.  Mamma, 

I did  not  think  it  would  have  been  so  long  beffore]  I should 
have  wrote  you,  but  I know  you  will  excuse  me  in  this  when  I 
inform  you  I have  found  it  dificult  to  write  those  letters  to 
Brother  Harry,  it  being  necessary  they  should  be  the  result  of 
great  attention  and  Study,  and  that  although  I painted  nothing 
in  England,  being  resolved  on  making  the  tour  first,  yet  I had 
a great  deal  to  do  in  attending  to  the  Art.  by  which  means  on 
my  return  to  London  I shall  not  have  this  to  do,  knowing  at  the 
same  time  you  received  every  inteligence  by  the  Letters  to 
Harry  and  My  Dear  Sukey  relating  to  me,  for  I have  been  very 
perticular  to  them,  and  have  let  no  oppertunity  of  Wrighting 
to  them  for  your  Sake  as  well  as  theirs,  for  I consider’d  my 
letter[s]  wrote  for  you  as  well  as  them  though  addressed  to 
them.  I arrived  in  this  City  the  first  of  Sepr.  and  shall  leave  it 
Tomorrow.  We  had  a very  fine  tour  to  this  City,  we  left  Bright 
Helmstone  on  monday  afternoon,  and  reached  this  place  the 
Thursday  following.  Mr.  Carter  [is]  well  versed  in  traveling, 
has  the  languages,  boath  Italian  and  French,  this  makes  [it] 
very  convenient  and  agreable.  he  is  a very  polite  and  sensable 
man,  who  has  seen  much  of  the  World,  it  is  most  probable  one 
house  will  hold  us  boath  at  Rome,  and  the  same  Coach  bring  us 
back  to  England  in  a twelve  month  from  Our  leaving  England. 
I desire  to  bless  God  I never  had  my  health  better  in  my  [life], 
and  I am  really  grown  fatter  than  you  ever  saw  me.  I find  this  a 
great  City  containing  many  Superb  Buildings,  altho  I do  not 
like  the  Architecture  in  General  in  their  Old  buildings,  yet 
there  is  a Chappel  in  the  Hospital  for  Invalids,  beautifull, 


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1774 


grand  and  rich,  allmost  beyand  disscription.  There  is  a number 
of  NewBui[l]dings  arecting  of  a very  magnificient  Kind.  I am 
assured  there  is  a Capital  Architect  in  this  place.  We  are  fixed 
in  very  Clean  lodging,  this  you  may  think  strange  in  this  place 
for  Paris  is  generally  thought  to  be  a Dirty  place;  but  tho  that 
may  be  true,  yet  people  may  live  Clean  and  well  if  they  please, 
there  is  Hotels  in  Paris  in  which  there  is  app art’s,  that  let  for 
50  and  60  Luisdores  per  Month,  these  are  very  grand,  my 
Companian  and  myself  give  but  a Guinea  per  Week  for  the 
Appartments  we  have,  they  serve  us  boath  and  we  find  a great 
saving  in  being  together,  in  many  things,  we  dine  at  a publick 
house,  which  is  the  best  in  Paris.  I am  told  they  lay  tables  for 
an  100  People  per  Day.  the  Cumpany  are  very  genteel,  they 
lay  Table  in  differant  Rooms;  at  each  there  may  be  about  15 
Persons  or  20.  I think  seldom  more  sit  at  the  same  Table. 
sinc[e]  I have  dined  there  several  Knights  have  been  of  the 
Cumpany;  none  but  Gentlemen  of  Carractor  dine  in  this 
House.  The  Tables  are  mostly  served  with  plate.  Soupp  is  the 
first  thing  brought  and  this  in  Silver  Turenes ; than  is  brought 
the  Bully;  that  is  the  Beef  of  Which  the  Soupp  is  made;  than 
the  Tables  is  served  with  two  Courses  of  everything  that  is  in 
season,  and  of  the  best  kind;  than  a Desert,  a pint  of  Wine  is 
set  to  each  plate,  and  is  I think  sufficient  for  one  person,  there 
is  a Roal  of  bread  of  a very  good  quallity  containing  as  much  at 
lea[s]t  as  a 15  penny  loaf,  this  is  for  one  person,  a Silver  spoon 
Silver  fork  and  knife  and  Towel,  at  each  Corner  of  the  Table 
a large  Decanter  of  Waiter.  I think  their  bread  far  better  than 
the  London,  or  than  any  I have  met  with  any  where,  in  this 
House  they  never  bring  any  thing  a second  time  to  table  (not 
even  the  Linen)  without  Wash’g;  but  what  is  left  is  given  to  the 
poor,  it  is  said  the  fragments  feed  50  poor  per  Day.  the  attend- 


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ance  is  excellent  and  the  order  of  decoram  of  the  Table  so  well 
preserved  that  you  would  rather  think  it  a select  cumpany  of 
private  friends  met  at  a private  House,  than  a mixed  cumpany 
in  a publick  House,  now  I have  given  you  this  Acct.  of  the  fare, 
what  should  you  think  is  the  Charge  for  this  ? not  more  than 
two  shillings  Sterling.  I am  sure  you  think  this  very  Cheep 
indeed,  but  it  is  really  no  more,  and  I have  not  enlarged  in  the 
least.  As  it  was  my  intention  to  stay  in  this  place  place  but  a 
week,  so  I did  not  think  it  worth  while  to  seek  for  any  acquaint- 
ance or  introduction  to  any  persons.  Mr.  Carter  thought  it  not 
worth  while,  he  has  no  acquaintance  here,  tho  he  has  been  two 
or  three  times  before  in  Paris.  The  Pallaces  are  open,  so  We 
Vissit  them;  and  the  Churches.  I have  now  seen  all  that  is 
worth  seeing,  so  shall  lose  no  time  but  push  forward  towards 
Rome,  it  [is]  curious  to  observe  that  in  all  the  places  that  I 
have  [been]  in,  Men  seem  to  be  the  same  sett  of  being  rather 
disposed  to  oblige  and  be  civil  than  otherwise.  I can  scarsely 
reallise  it  that  I am  now  in  this  City,  as  it  has  seem’d  so  like  a 
Dream  to  me  when  I have  thoughft]  of  coming  to  it;  but  I find 
all  the  Dificulty  is  in  seting  about  such  business.  I have  enjoyd 
a fund  of  Delight  in  this  excursition  and  hope  it  will  fix  me  in 
such  a way  as  will  ennable  me  to  provide  for  my  Dear  Children 
in  such  a way  as  to  bring  them  into  the  great  World  with  repu- 
tation. as  it  now  grows  late  I shall  close  this  letter,  with  my 
best  respects  to  all  those  Friends  who  shall  inquire  after  me, 
and  with  my  constant  wishes  for  your  health  and  happiness, 
and  desires  of  your  blessing  constantly  to  attend  me  in  all  the 
moments  of  my  life.  I am,  my  Dear  and  ever  Hon’d  Mother, 
your  Dutifull  and  truly  Affectionate  Son, 

John  Singleton  Copley. 


2 56 


C op  ley  -Pelham  Letters 


1774 


P.  S.  I hope  Snap  continues  to  behave  himself  well,  if  he 
Does  I shall  be  glad  to  hear  it,  and  shall  certainly  reward  him 
for  it.  I shall  be  very  Glad  to  hear  from  Boston.  I have 
received  only  one  letter  (which  was  from  Mrs.  Copley)  since  I 
lift  it.  it  gave  me  a pleasure  I cannot  express  when  I received  it, 
and  shall  be  very  constant  to  write  to  some  or  other  of  them 
every  oppertunity,  because  I know  they  will  receive  the  like 
pleasure  from  my  Letters. 

Copley  to  his  wife 1 

Lyons,  Sepr.  15,  1774. 

My  Ever  Dearest  and  beloved  Sukey, 

My  constant  attention  to  your  happiness,  induces  me  to 
improve  every  oppertunity  that  offers  to  inform  you,  of  my 
health;  and  that  I know  nothing  irksom  (as  yet)  in  my  tour  but 
the  painful  seperation  from  those  friends  I so  tenderly  love, 
being  sure  of  your  sincerity,  when  you  wrote  me  your  happi- 
ness so  greatly  depended  on  mine,  you  are  in  return  to  receive 
the  only  best  and  surest  testimonies  that  is  in  my  power  how 
much  mine  depends  on  yours,  that  is,  releaving  your  anciety 
as  much  as  possable  by  constantly  writing  to  you,  and  being  as 
soon  as  possably  I can,  in  London  again.  I am  as  certain  as  I 
can  be  of  any  thing,  that  if  it  pleases  God  to  bless  me  with  Life, 
and  health,  I shall  not  exceed  the  time  I menshoned,  that  is,  I 
shall  be  in  England  the  next  Sumer.  If  you  knew  how  great  my 
desires  were  to  be  with  you,  you  would  not  think  it  necessary  to 
say  one  word  to  hasten  that  happy  time;  I am  sure  I shall  think 
that  an  hour  of  happiness  that  brings  us  together  beyand  any  I 
shall  enjoy  till  it  arrives.  I feel  myself  epsorb’d,  in  those  tender 

1 Chamberlain  Collection,  J.  3.8,  in  the  Boston  Public  Library. 


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Copley -Pelham  Letters 


2 57 


feelings  to  that  degree  that  I must  restrain  myself  till  the  time 
of  Banishment  is  expired;  yet,  my  Dear  life,  I assure  you  such  a 
fund  of  pleasure  attends  me  in  all  the  sceens  through  which  I 
pass,  that  it  is  an  ample  recompence  for  all  the  time,  and 
expence,  that  attends  such  a Tour.  I do  not  find  those  dangers, 
and  dificulties,  in  the  exicution  of  such  a Voyage  and  Journey 
as  this  I am  now  prosicuting  from  America  to  Rome  so  great  as 
people  do  that  sit  at  home,  and  paint  out  frightfull  Storys  to 
themselves  in  their  Imaginations,  their  is  no  part  of  the  way 
from  London  to  this  City,  but  what  is  so  traviled,  that  the 
number  of  people  one  must  associate  with  is  rather  burdensome 
than  otherwise ; tho  it  is  very  genteel  Cumpany  one  meets  with, 
and  no  other,  as  there  is  a subbordination  of  People  in  this 
Country  unknown  in  America.  We  left  Paris  last  friday  at  four 
in  the  Morning  and  reached  this  City  last  night,  it  is  reckened 
three  hundred  miles  and  we  performed  it  in  five  Days,  we  came 
in  a conveyance  called  a Diligence;  it  is  like  one  of  our  Coaches 
only  large  anough  to  contain  ten  persons  with  conveniance,  tho 
we  were  but  seven,  with  four  or  five  without  side,  we  set  out 
by  four  o Clock  every  morning  and  at  certain  stages  stop  to 
dine  at  n or  12  o’Clock;  at  those  Houres  there  is  always  a 
Diner  provided  for  the  Cumpany  that  are  in  the  Coach  and  no 
one  else,  unless  that  Cumpany  chuse  to  invite  any  that  maybe 
at  that  time  in  the  House,  we  were  all  exceeding  sociable,  tho 
I felt  some  degree  of  mortification  in  not  having  the  Language,  so 
as  to  join  in  the  conversation,  we  were  drawn  by  eight  Horses; 
and  what  with  the  size  of  the  Coach,  the  bagage  before  and 
behind  it  seemd  a moving  House.  I cannot  say  much  in  favour 
of  the  Country  through  which  we  passed  the  four  first  Days, 
but  the  fifth  Day  such  it  was  as  was  really  inchanting.  I forgot 
to  tell  you  that  the  last  Day  and  half  we  came  by  waiter,  the 


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1774 


price  is  paid  at  Paris  for  a seat  in  the  Diligence,  and  for  that 
you  are  fed  on  the  road  and  very  well  indeed;  but  when  we  got 
as  far  as  Chalon,  a City  on  the  River  sone,  which  is  within  a 
Day  and  an  half  of  Lyons,  the  proprierters  of  the  Diligence, 
have  a Vessel  into  which  they  put  us  with  our  bagage.  in 
this  Vessell  or  boat  there  is  two  Rooms,  one  of  which  is  very 
comfortable,  seats  all  round  with  Cushons,  and  very  neat  in- 
deed; so  that  we  were  as  comfortable  as  in  any  Room,  this 
Room  is  always  reserved  for  the  passengers  that  come  in  the 
Coach,  than  by  a long  roap  from  the  mast  Carried  to  the 
Shoar  and  fixed  to  Horses  she  is  Drawn  down  the  River  (which 
is  as  Smoath  as  Glass)  and  on  each  side  [we]  were  delighted 
with  such  fine  prospects  as  no  pen  can  discribe,  the  vast  variety 
of  Towns,  Churches,  Villas  and  castles,  together  with  the  lovely 
variety  of  the  Hills  on  each  side,  covoured  with  Grapes  and 
Gardens,  and  the  beautifull  windings  of  the  river  which  is  very 
narrow  and  gave  us  a very  perfect  vew  of  the  smallest  objects  on 
boath  sides,  the  warter  so  shoal  that  I think  in  general  it  did 
not  exceed  two  or  three  feet  cake  one  part  of  it  with  the  other. 
The  Principal  Villages  and  Towns  by  which  we  passed  and 
that  lay  on  each  side  of  the  Soan1  are,  Essaune,  Fontain  bleu, 
Moret,  Villeneurs  la  Guyare,  Sens,  Villeniuve  le  Roy,  Joigny, 
Auxerre,  Vermenton,  Rovere’  Auxere,  Arnelduc,  Challons, 
Tournett,2  Macon,  and  a Multitude  of  others  that  inriched  the 
prospects  and  varied  them  so  continually,  that  it  is  vain  to 
attemp  to  give  you  an  Idea  of  it.  in  this  way  we  reach  this  City, 
tho  not  large  is  from  its  natu[ral]  situation  very  lovely,  it  lays 

1 Seine,  Yonne  and  Soane. 

2 Essonnes,  Fontainebleau,  Villeneuve  la  Guyard,  Villeneuve  sur  Yonne, 
Pouilly  en  Auxerre,  Arnay  le  Due,  and  Tournus,  are  conjectured  to  be  the  places 
not  easily  recognized  by  his  spelling. 


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Copley -Pelham  Letters 


2 59 


on  each  side  the  River  Soan,  over  which  there  are  several  Bridges, 
on  the  south  side  of  the  City  is  the  famous  River  Rhoan  men- 
shoned  by  many  Historians  and  Poets,  this  afternoon  I passed 
the  Street  that  is  bounded  on  one  side  by  this  River,  and  saw 
its  windings  a considerable  way.  On  the  north  side  of  the  City 
the  Hills  are  very  high  and  bound  it.  we  assended  in  going  on 
this  high  ground  a flight  of  Stone  Steps,  the  number  about  120. 
those  Steps  lead  from  [one]  of  the  Streets,  when  we  had  got  to 
the  Top  of  the  Steps  we  still  assen[d]ed  till  we  reach  the  Sum- 
mit, where  there  is  several  [buildings]  one  of  them  a Church. 
But  such  a prospect  my  eyes  never  before  beheld;  such  an 
extended  Country  so  rich  and  beautifull ! and  at  the  utmost 
reach  of  sight  could  see  the  Alps  riseing  like  Clouds  above  the 
other  Hills,  we  could  see  from  this  the  Mountains  of  Savoy  and 
Switserland  very  Distinktly,  and  the  City  of  Lyons  right  under 
our  feet  with  the  two  beautyfull  Rivers  one  on  the  Side  the 
other  running  through  the  midst  of  it.  Brother  Harry  can 
convey  a very  perfect  Idea  of  our  rout  by  my  maps.  I design 
staying  in  this  City  only  two  Days  to  rest  and  see  what  there  is 
to  be  seen,  and  than  with  Diligence  go  on.  I believe  you  must 
think  we  have  not  loitered  on  the  road  when  we  have  go[ne]  so 
far  in  so  short  a time,  but  we  want  to  get  on  as  fast  as  we  can, 
and  the  sooner  will  be  the  return  that  I trust  will  put  me  in 
possession  of  my  Dear  Family.  I am  very  Ancious  for  you, 
my  Dear,  and  our  lovely  Children,  for  I know  not  what  state 
you  are  in,  in  Boston ; but  I pray  God  to  preserve  you  and  them. 
I beg  you  will  not  be  uneasey  for  me,  for  I take  all  imaginable 
care  of  my  self  and  find  it  an  happy  event  the  having  a com- 
panion. by  this  everything  goes  on  easy.  We  shall  I trust  soon 
be  at  the  utmost  distance  from  those  I so  tenderly  [love]  that  I 
propose,  after  a few  months  tarry  there,  every  remove  will 


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Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1774 


bring  us  nearer  together.  0 my  Angel ! had  it  been  convenient 
for  you  to  have  been  with  me,  how  happy  should  I have  been ! 
I am  ancious  to  know  how  my  Dear  Mother  does,  and  [whether] 
she  is  easey  or  not.  I know  she  must  be  ancious  for  me,  but 
I hope  it  does  not  make  her  unhappy,  do  give  my  tenderest 
Love  and  duty  to  her.  I wrote  to  her  to  you  and  Brother  Harry 
from  Paris,  which  I hope  you  will  duly  receive,  you  must 
continue  to  Direct  to  Brother  Jackey  1 at  the  New  England 
Coffee  House  my  Letters,  and  he  will  forward  them  to  me. 
Give  my  Duty  and  Love  to  our  Hond.  Papa,  and  to  all  my 
friends  remember  me  in  such  a way  as  you  shall  judge  proper. 
I hope  you  meet  with  no  dificulty  in  the  settlement  of  those 
Accts  I left  in  your  hands.  I shall  be  much  distresed  if  you  are 
put  to  any  dificulty  of  that  kind,  do  write  by  every  oppertu- 
nity.  I am  impation  to  know  how  things  go  in  Boston,  if  my 
Brother  wrote  by  the  Vessell  that  brought  your  welcom  Letter 
to  me,  it  is  lost.  I have  never  seen  it.  give  my  blessing  to  my 
Dear  Babys,  and  a thousand  Kisses,  tell  my  Dear  Betsey  not 
to  forget  he[r]  Papa.  I finish  this  16  tho  I began  it  15  of  Sepr. 
it  give[s]  you  one  Days  later  inteligence.  But  I must  bid  you 
Adieu,  my  Dear  life.  I shall  write  to  you  from  Marsells  as  soon 
as  I arrive  there  if  the[re]  be  any  oppertunity;  if  not  do  not  be 
ancious.  I shall  watch  every  oppertunity.  in  the  mean  time 
may  the  good  God  keep  you  and  your  little  one[s]  in  continual 
Peace,  and  beleive  [me]  your  Most  Affectionate  Husband, 

John  S.  Copley.2 

1 Jonathan  Clarke. 

2 The  omissions  in  this  letter,  indicated  by  brackets,  are  due  to  the  writ- 
er’s haste,  not  to  defects  in  the  manuscript. 


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Copley -Pelham  Letters 


261 


Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

Marseilles,  25  Sepr.,  1774. 

My  Dear  Brother, 

From  this  place  I write  you,  altho  I have  so  lately  sent  you  a 
long  Letter,  for  I assure  you  I dont  know  a greater  pleasure 
than  writing  to  my  friends.  But  I should  if  it  was  possable  fill 
my  letters  with  matter  that  diffiered,  so  that  each  should  con- 
tain somthing  percular  to  itself,  for  I consider  those  I write  to 
you  not  only  yours  but  belonging  to  our  Dear  Mama,  and  my 
Dear  Sukey;  but  it  is  dificult,  as  we  take  only  a cursory  vew  of 
those  places  through  which  we  pass,  however  I shall  as  much 
as  possable  avoid  repetitions.  I arrived  at  this  place  yesterday 
afternoon,  and  now  begin  to  see  the  end  of  my  long  but  most 
pleasingTour,  big  with  pleasure  of  various  kind  and  instruction. 
You  must  think  we  have  made  great  Dispatch  to  reach  this 
place  not  less  than  eight  hund.  and  fifty  miles  from  London  in 
four  weeks,  and  made  a week’s  stay  at  Paris,  two  Days  at 
Lyons,  and  four  Days  and  an  half  at  Avignon;  but  I assure  you 
there  is  no  more  Dificulty  in  traviling  th[r]ough  this  Country 
than  in  your  going  to  Cambridge;  nor  is  there  any  dangers 
attending  it  but  those  to  which  human  nature  is  exposed  at  all 
times  and  in  every  place,  my  last  Letter  was  Dated  at  Lyons, 
from  thence  went  to  Avignon  and  reached  it  in  2 Days  and  an 
y2.  we  went  down  (in  a kind  of  Vessel)  the  River  Rhone  carried 
by  the  currant,  which  although  rapped  is  for  the  most  part  like 
a Glass,  the  River  is  not  wider  than  that  of  Cambridge  full  of 
winding,  many  small  Islands  in  it,  and  on  its  borders  many 
Vilages  and  the  most  romantic  Country  on  each  side  that  you 
can  conceive.  Quite  from  Lyons  to  Avignon  there  is  one  con- 
tinued range  of  hills  which  are  very  high,  and  in  many  places 


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*774 


there  is  mined  monestrys,  Towers,  Castels,  etc.,  which  give 
such  an  effect  that  it  exceeds  all  Discription.  those  kind  of 
Boats  or  Vesells  is  continually  Stoping  boath  to  Land  and  take 
in  passingers.  it  is  so  safe  and  so  easy  a mode  of  conveyance 
that  people  go  in  them,  if  it  is  not  more  than  two  or  three 
miles  they  want  to  go.  there  is  certain  places  where  they  Stop 
to  Dine,  and  there  is  allways  an  eligant  Diner  provided  of  three 
Coarses,  consisting  of  Fish,  Fowls,  Beef,  Mutton,  small  Birds, 
etc. ; and  after  this  a Desert  of  Grapes,  Peaches,  Almons,  Wall- 
nuts,  figgs,  Cakes,  Chese,  etc.,  and  as  Genteely  served  as  you 
can  Imagin.  the  forks  are  all  Silver  and  at  every  plate  a Napkin 
neetly  folded  and  lying  on  it.  these  Napkins  are  never  brought 
a second  time,  no  more  is  the  Table  Cloath.  I must  do  the 
French  the  jusftice]  to  say  in  their  Table  Linen  they  are  very 
nice.  I suppose  you  will  wonder  if  I tell  you  I never  wish  to  live 
more  eligant  than  I do  at  those  Houses,  the  Linen  of  their  Beds 
is  also  very  clean,  their  plates  are  a kind  of  earthan  but  quite 
white,  and  I think  very  Clever:  their  bread  is  very  good;  and  to 
every  plate  a Roal  is  laid;  and  a Tumbler  set  with  a silver  Fork 
and  spoon;  and  you  would  wonder  to  see  with  what  ease  the 
Cumpany  is  tended  and  how  very  genteel  every  thing  is.  how- 
ever it  is  to  be  observed  we  have  lived  in  the  first  manner  that 
France  affoards.  there  is  a Vast  variety  of  made  Dishes  brought 
besides  the  above  mentioned,  their  suppers  are  just  the  same 
that  their  Diners  are.  Through  the  agreable  windings  of  the 
Rhone  we  passed  till  we  arrived  at  Avignon,  where  we  had 
a little  English  Colony  which  was  compossed  of  Gentlemen 
and  Ladys  to  the  number  of  fifteen,  and  at  the  play  we  made 
no  small  Figure,  we  spent  4 Days  in  this  place  very  happily 
indeed,  in  this  English  assosiation.  Avignon  is  a very  pretty 
place,  and  I beleive  may  contain  as  many  Inhabitants  as  Bos- 


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Copley -Pelham  Letters 


263 


ton.  it  is  in  the  Pope’s  Dominions  and  divided  from  the  French 
Kings  only  by  the  Rhone,  which  is  very  narrow  as  I before 
menshoned.  there  is  on  the  other  side  of  the  Rhone,  two  Con- 
vents, one  of  Benedictines  situated  very  high  and  commands  a 
very  noble  prospect,  the  other  at  a little  distance  in  a small 
Vilage  of  which  I have  forgot  the  name,  it  is  surprisingly  rich 
in  painting,  Guilding,  etc.  it  is  very  Clean  throughout  and 
Eligent.  from  Avignon  we  came  in  a Chaise  to  this  Seaport, 
which  is  a very  fine  one.  yesterday  as  soon  as  we  arrived,  we 
weited  on  Mr.  Burbeck  the  British  Consul,  Who  treated  us 
with  the  greatest  politeness  Imaginable,  Kept  us  to  Tea,  called 
on  us  this  morning,  carried  us  throughout  the  Town,  which  he 
thinks  contains  an  hund.  Thousand  Souls.  I prefer  this  place  to 
any  I have  seen  sence  I left  London,  the  Harbour  is  a very  fine 
one,  secured  from  the  Ocean  everyway;  the  Buildings  very  good. 
We  were  at  the  play  the  last  Eveng.  and  have  been  this  also, 
but  I sit  up  to  write,  as  the  Consul  will  send  this  Letter  for  me, 
and  must  have  [it]  by  9 oClock  in  the  morning,  he  intends 
carrying  us  to  the  Concert  to  morrow  Evening,  and  the  next 
Day  we  set  out  for  Antebes  in  a Chaise  which  we  have  taken 
for  that  purpose.  Allow  me  before  I conclude  to  intreat  you  to 
get  the  Languages,  it  is  of  the  greatest  consiquence  to  you 
Imaginable.  I have  lost  a vast  pleasure  in  not  having  the 
french  but  am  surprised  to  find  I have  got  so  many  words  in  so 
short  a time,  was  I to  stay  3 Months  I should  be  able  to  speak 
a little.  I can  now  ask  for  many  things,  but  I shall  soon  be  in 
the  midst  of  Italian,  as  I have  now  trespassed  on  the  las[t] 
page  I shall  be  obligefd]  to  inclose  it  in  Sukeys  and  I shall  not 
put  a Covour,  because  there  is  nothing  but  what  your  Sister 
may  see  and  I shall  save  some  postage,  this  I know  you  will 
excuse,  pray  give  my  Effectionate  Duty  to  our  ever  Dear  and 


264  Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1774 


Hond.  Mama,  my  love  to  Brother  and  Sister  Pelham,  and  to 
all  Friends.  I find  an  amaising  fund  of  Pleasure  and  improve- 
ment in  my  Tour  and  feell  no  other  anciety  but  that  of 
being  so  far  from  my  Dear  friends,  remember  my  injuntions 
of  Dilligance  and  unremiting  Ardour  in  the  Pursuit  of  your 
Art. 

I am,  my  Dear  Brother,  Your  Most  Affectionate  Brother  and 
Sincere  friend, 

John  Singleton  Copley. 

Charles  Reak  and  Samuel  Okey 1 to  Henry  Pelham 

Sir, 

It  wou’d  have  given  mee  singular  Pleasure  to  have  seen  you 
on  my  Excursion  when  wou’d  have  explained  my  Intention  of 
scraping  some  Plates  in  Metzotinto  from  Desines  of  yours  or 
Mr.  Copeleys.  I have  carried  with  mee  A Picture  of  Dr.  Cooper 
by  Copley  but  cou’d  have  wisht  it  had  been  that,  that  is  in  Mr. 
Hancocks  Collection.  I have  likewise  A Picture  of  Mr.  Addams 

1 Stauffer  mentions  three  plates  published  by  Reak  and  Okey,  “Printsellers 
and  Stationers  on  the  Parade,  Newport,  Rhode  Island.”  I.  October  28,  1773,  a 
mezzotint  of  Feke’s  portrait  of  Rev.  Thomas  Hiscox,  late  pastor  of  the  Baptist 
Church  in  Westerley;  2.  November  2,  1774,  a mezzotint  of  Game’s  portrait  of 
Rev.  James  Honeyman,  late  Rector  of  Trinity  Church,  Newport;  and  3.  April, 
1775,  one  of  Mitchell’s  portraits  of  Samuel  Adams.  A fourth,  without  name  of 
publisher,  of  Joseph  Warren,  he  believes  to  have  been  made  by  Okey,  and  a plate 
of  Hals’  Burgomaster  is  known  to  have  been  his.  Okey  was  the  engraver  and 
Reak  a printer,  and  the  two  were  associated  in  London  before  coming  to  the 
United  States.  See  Dictionary  of  National  Biography , xlii.  80;  Stauffer,  American 
Engravers , 11.  391.  An  advertisement  of  Reak  and  Okey  in  the  Newport  Mercury , 
January  30,  1775,  offers  the  “Much  Admired  Royal  Clove  Drops,”  and  “New 
Books,  among  which  are  the  Vicar  of  Wakefield,  a work  highly  esteemed  by  the 
learned,  Evans’s  poems,  Macaronic  Jester,  Amorous  Buck,  being  a collection  of 
jocular  songs,  with  a variety  of  curious  watch-papers,  etc.  Prints  and  pictures 
neatly  framed  and  glazed,  portraits  taken  in  chalk,  miniature  painting,  and 
every  kind  of  drawing,  as  usual.” 


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265 


wich  I purpose  Imediately  on  my  return  to  put  on  the  Copper. 
I saw  yours  at  Mr.  Reviers  which  I admire,  how  unlucky  for 
mee  I cou’d  neither  have  the  Pleasure  of  seeing  you  or  him. 
I cou’d  have  wisht  for  the  best  Picture  of  Mess.  Hancock  and 
Addams.  you  have  A Fine  Picture  of  A Lady  in  Car  of  a 
Sheperd  or  Nymph,  it  wou’d  make  a Good  Metzotint.  at 
presant  wee  cou’d  not  undertake  it.  we  shou’d  beg  your  Interest 
some  time  hence  to  get  Mr.  Hancock’s  and  interim  shall  ven- 
ture to  work  from  this  Picture  of  Mr.  Addams  by  Mr.  Mitchell.1 
tho  shoud  be  glad  if  Mr.  Revier  wou’d  send  us  Imediatly  the 
small  one  of  yours  from  which  wee  wou’d  scrape  the  Face.  I 
wish  to  have  this  Plate  done  in  about  Two  Months  when  will 
send  you  A Proof,  in  Interim  am  your  Most  hum.  sets. 

Chas.  Reak  and  for 
Sam.  Okey. 

Boston,  Octo.  5th,  1774. 

beg  you  ’1  let  Mr.  Heard  have  the  Proofs  I think  Seventeen 
left  I beleive  in  your  hands  and  Mr.  Mumford  of  our  Town  will 
forward  them  to  us. 

Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 

Philadelphia,  Novr.  2d,  1774. 

Dear  Brother, 

A letter  filled  with  appologies  would  perhaps  as  much  require 
an  excuse  as  the  long  silence  it  was  meant  to  extenuate  I shall 
therefore  leave  the  subject  hoping  your  candour  will  attribute 
the  omission  to  any  cause  but  neglect  or  want  of  Regard  for  be 
assured  that  not  a day  passes  but  I think  of  you  with  the  most 
tender  and  grateful  Remembrance. 

1 J.  Mitchell. 


266  Copley -Pelham  Letters  1774 

Your  welcome  and  pleasing  Letter  of  July  15  is  now  before  me; 
welcome , as  it  gives  me  the  happy  account  of  your  Safe  arrival 
after  an  agreable  Passage  upon  which  I congratulate  you,  and 
pleasing , as  I find  I have  a distinguish’d  Place  in  your  Regards. 
When  in  that  Letter  you  say  “you  begin  a Correspondence 
from  which  I shall  no  doubt  receive  much  pleasure”  you  judged 
Very  right,  tho’  had  you  substituted  Happyness  instead  of 
Pleasure  it  would  have  given  a truer  discription  of  those  feel- 
ings which  I enjoyed  upon  the  commencement  and  expect  in 
the  continuance  of  that  Correspondence. 

The  Account  you  give  of  your  Health  and  agreable  Journey, 
your  interview  with  and  Character  of  Mr.  West,  your  having  a 
Companion  with  you  in  your  tour,  etc.,  give  all  your  friends  in 
this  part  of  the  world  infinite  satisfaction.  I promise  myself 
much  pleasure  in  a Sight  of  Mr.  Wests  print  of  the  death  of 
Gen’l  Wolfe.  You  will  doubtless  want  to  know  why  this  is 
dated  from  Philadelphia.  Alass!  I wish  I had  a more  satisfac- 
tory account  to  give  than  that  I have  taken  this  Journey  in 
search  of  lost  Health;  but  still  Happy  should  I be  could  I say  I 
had  entirely  recovered  it.  I have  been  for  near  10  Months  past 
very  subject  to  nervous  complaints  which  shewed  themselves 
in  an  almost  continued  Dizziness,  Headack,  Loss  of  Appetite, 
Trembling  of  the  Nerves,  and  Lowness  of  Spiritts.  for  these  I 
early  put  myself  under  the  Care  of  Doct’r  Perkins,  who  ordered 
me  a course  of  Steel  and  frequent  Riding,  and  recommended  a 
long  journey  in  the  fall  which  my  friends  much  advised  too. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Startin  returning  home,  I thought  it  a favourable 
time  for  the  excursion,  and  have  come  thus  far  in  Company 
with  them  and  Judge  Lee  and  Lady,  our  Cambridge  Friends, 
who  propose  passing  the  winter  here.  In  a few  days  I intend  to 
sett  out  for  home,  stoping  for  about  a fortnight  at  New  Haven, 


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267 


where  Mr.  Babcock1  has  engaged  me  to  do  two  or  three  mina- 
ture  Pictures.  The  effect  my  Ride  has  had  is  a great  lessning 
of  all  the  symptoms  except  the  Headack  and  lowness  of  Spiritts ; 
they  still  seem  to  continue  inveterate. 

I left  my  Friends  as  well  as  usually  they  are,  my  Mamma 
anxious  for  my  Health  and  solicitous  for  my  taking  this  Journey. 

The  State  of  Publick  Affairs  in  Boston  you  are  desirous  to  know. 
How  pleasing  would  it  be  could  I inform  you  that  Peace  and  mu- 
tual Confidence,  Mercy  and  Law  had  resumed  their  Sway,  but 
Alass!  my  Dear  Brother!  Discord  and  Distrust,  Cruelty  and 
Anarchy,  have  banish’d  them  from  this  unhappy  Land.  I am 
glad  My  Paper  will  plead  an  excuse  for  not  decending  to  Pertic- 
ulars  in  a subject  to  me  so  Distressing.  From  the  fatal  publick 
Movements  of  the  last  Winter  I date  my  present  Disquietude, 
and  much  fear  that  will  be  the  ^Era  of  my  future  Unhappyness. 

Buisness  of  a private  Nature  next  claims  attention,  here 
likewise  they  are  far  from  being  as  I could  Wish. 

My  own  entirely  Stopped,  yours  not  in  that  forwardness  that 
you  expected.  Money  people  are  very  loth  to  part  with.  Our 
Common  Friend  Mr.  G[reen]  has  entirely  dropped  the  mask  and 
by  his  conduct  avows  himself  to  be  that  finish’d  Scoundrel 
I always  thought  him.  He  will  neither  pay  his  Rent  nor  remove 
out  of  the  House,  so  that  it  is  continually  increasing,  and 
Heaven  knows  there  is  now  no  Law  to  compel  him  to  either.2 
We  take  no  more  notice  of  each  other  than  if  we  were  perfect 
Strangers.3  Your  Hon’ble  Coll.4  that  was,  for  he  is  now  dis- 

1 Adam  Babcock. 

2 Erased  in  first  draft:  “Not  the  least  Civilities  pass  between  us  now.” 

8 The  letter  thus  far  has  been  neatly  copied.  What  follows  is  from  a very 
confused  first  draft,  which  has  here  the  following  erased  sentence:  “He  has 
treated  Mrs.  Copley  and  myself  in  a base  and  unhansome  Manner.” 

4 Hancock,  who  was  colonel  of  the  Cadet  Corps. 


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missed,  has  scarc[e]ly  behaved  better  than  Mr.  G.,  tho  much 
more  Complesantly.  3 times  a day  for  a Week  together  have  I 
attended  him  upon  his  appointment,  as  often  Disapoint[ed], 
either  by  his  absence  or  buisness  or  having  lost  the  Account,  or 
some  such  trifling  excuse,  here  again  the  temper  of  the  times 
forbids  my  doing  other  than  taggle  after  his  plagey  heels  when- 
ever he  is  pleased  to  appoint  it.  my  tongue  of  [ten?]  itches[?] 
to  tell  him  that  I think  he  is  a very  trifling  Fellow.  I should 
certaintly  do  it  was  he  a less  Man,  or  I a greater,  or  the  times 
more  favorable. 

My  Crazy  ColFl1  has  left  me  without  settling  with  me  and  I 
find  he  has  nothing  to  settle  with. 

I shall  not  attempt  a discription  of  this  City  or  New  York, 
where  we  spent  9 Days.  Such  a Discription  to  you  who  have 
seen  them  would  be  unnecessary,  and  had  you  not,  would  after 
your  English  and  Italian  Tour  be  totally  uninteresting.  I have 
been  lucky  in  forming  some  very  agreable  Acquaintances  and 
valuable  Fri[e]nds  in  Both  Citys,  perticularly  in  Mr.  Curson2 
and  Mr.  Seaton3  in  New  York,  and  Doct’r  Morgan  in  this  City, 
from  them  I have  rece’d  great  Civ[il]iteys  and  find  them  much 
disposed  to  promote  my  coming  among  them  as  an  Artist, 
most  People  with  whom  I am  acquainted  are  desirous  of  my 
exercising  the  Pencill,  and  I have  half  promised  to  make  another 
tour  in  the  Spring,  but  this  is  a matter  that  will  entirely  depend 
upon  contingancies.  Those  Gentlemen  have  promised  to  find 
me  some  Buisness,  and  Kindly  offer  to  introduce  me  to  more.4 

1 Elihu  Hall.  See  Proceedings  Col.  Soc.  Mass.,  v.  199. 

2 See  Mass.  Hist.  Soc.  Proceedings , xlvii.  232. 

3 William  Seton,  a merchant,  with  a store  on  Cruger’s  Dock.  He  was  after- 
wards in  the  Bank  of  New  York. 

4 Erased:  “I  saw  those  Pictures  at  Mr.  Lows  at  Brunswick  and  was  really- 
charmed.  your  discr[i]ption  by  no  means  gave  me  an  adequate  Idea  of  their 


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269 


I have  only  Room  to  add  that  a continuance  of  your  regard 
is  the  Wish,  And  that  the  almighty  would  bless  you  in  Health, 
Peace  and  Content,  is  the  Prayer  of  your  ever  affectionate 
and  Obliged 

H.  P. 

You  are  much  talked  of  here.  I was  really  surprized  at  find- 
ing you  so  well  known.  Scarc[e]  a person  but  has  your  name  as 
patt  and  speaks  with  a[s]  much  fluency  of  you  as  of  Mr.  West. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Startin  from  whom  I have  rec’ed  the  polites[t] 
marks  of  attention  and  Regard,  present  their  kind  love  to  you 
as  do  also  Mr.  Lee  and  Lady.  I am  with  affection  as  above, 

H.  P. 

I just  heard  that  our  Friends  at  Boston  are  all  well,  and  that 
a letter  from  you  was  arrived  with  my  things  etc.  I also  hear 
that  Mr.  Molineaux 1 was  dead  after  3 days  illness  of  an  inflamm- 
ation in  his  Bowels. 

Novr.  2d.,  1774. 

Henry  Pelham  to  John  Singleton 

Philadelphia,  Novr.  10,  1774A 

Dear  and  Hon’d  Uncle, 

I am  at  last  happ y in  an  Opertunity  of  acknowledging  the 
recei[p]t  of  your  very  welcom[e]  and  kind  favour  of  Jan’y  27, 
which  is  now  before  me.  accept  my  gratefull  thanks,  for  the 

Bea[u]ty.  Doct’r  Morgan  has  a few  clever  Coppys,  and  an  Original  Portrait  of 
Angelica  painted  by  her  self.  This  I was  so  pleased  with  that  I have  taken  a 
coppy  of  it  in  Minature.” 

1 William  Molineaux,  a “noted  merchant”  of  Boston,  and  an  ardent  defender 
of  the  liberties  of  America.  A tribute  to  him  is  in  the  Essex  Gazette , October  25, 
1774- 

2 This  letter  was  first  dated  Nov.  2,  then  Nov.  4,  and  finally  Nov.  10. 


270 


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!774 


Pleasure  you  have  given  me,  and  for  the  tender  regard  you 
ther[e]in  express  towards  me.  The  Gratification  I experienced 
upon  receiving  a letter,  from  so  near  and  dear  a Fri[e]nd,  makes 
me  sincerely  Regret  the  uncertainty  and  frequent  miscarriages 
attending  a Correspondence,  to  so  remote  a part  of  the  globe 
as  yours  is  from  this.  I must  appologize  to  you,  for  not  answer- 
ing your  affectionate  favour  before,  but  doubt  not  your  excuse, 
when  I inform  you  that  this  is  the  first  Opertunity  I have  had, 
since  the  receipt  of  yours,  which  did  not  come  to  hand  till  the 
middle  of  Last  June.  Your  kind  Congratulations  upon  my 
Brother  Copleys  Marriage  I receive  with  greatest  Pleasure,  and 
return  the  Compliment  with  the  most  heartfelt  Satisfaction,  in 
wishing  you  joy  of  the  marriage  of  my  Cousin  with  a Gentle- 
man of  Mr.  King’s  Fortune  and  Character,  and  hope  you  will 
find  in  the  Connection  every  possable  Satisfaction  and  Happy- 
ness.  I pray  Heaven  you  may.  The  Acount  you  give  of  your 
family  is  very  pleasing  to  me,  as  is  your  kind  wish  for  a more 
regular  Correspondanc[e]  with  me.  this  be  assured  is  what  I 
most  ardently  desire,  as  what  would  add  much  to  my  Happy- 
ness  and  seem  to  shorten  that  distance  at  which  Providence 
has  placed  us.  those  Letters  you  or  my  other  Fri[e]nds  in 
Ireland,  may  do  me  the  Honor  of  writing,  if  Direc[t]ed  to  me  in 
Boston,  New  England,  and  put  on  board  any  Vessells  (of 
which  I am  told  there  are  many  continually  sailing  from 
Limeric  and  Cork)  bound  to  Philadelphia,  will  come  to  hand 
in  the  directest  and  speediest  manner.  A Gentleman  of  this 
City,1  who  married  a Sister  of  Mrs.  C[opley],  and  in  whose 
perticular  Friendship  I am  hon’d  takes  the  Care  of  my  Letters, 
both  to  and  from  Ireland.  So  that  I now  Hope  I have  found  a 
Channell  of  Conveyance  that  will  afford  me  the  Greatest 

1 Mr.  Startin. 


1774 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


2 7 


Pleasure  and  Happyness,  the  Happyness  in  your  Correspond- 
ance.  You  desire  some  account  of  your  friends  in  America. 
My  Hon’d  Mother  still  continues  in  that  declining  way  she 
was  in,  when  I wrote  you  last;  she  still  retains  the  warmesft] 
Regard  for  you;  And  I fullfill  her  (often  repeated)  desires,  in 
presenting  her  kindest  Love  and  most  sincere  affection  to  you, 
and  our  other  dear  friends  in  Ireland.  Her  Heart  ever  glows 
with  undiminish’d  tenderness  for  those  whom  nature  has  placed 
nearest  it.  She  much  interests  herself  in  her  Neice’s  Marriage, 
and  unites  with  me,  in  my  Congratulations,  and  in  wishing  that 
every  felicity  thro’  time  and  Eternity,  may  attend  you,  the 
new  married  Couple,  and  all  your  and  their  Conections.  My 
Brother  Cha’s  1 Alass ! unhappy  Man ! sailed  from  Boston  for 
Carolina,  where  he  arrived  abov[e]  8 years  ago,  since  which  I 
have  not  heard  the  least  thing  concerning  him,  and  am  entirely 
ignorant  where  he  is,  or  weither  alive  or  not.  My  other  Brother 
your  dear  namesake  I had  the  Pain  of  Parting  with  the  begining 
of  last  June  when  he  embarked  for  England,  on  his  way  for  Italy 
where  he  proposes  spend ’g  15  or  18  Months  for  his  improvement 
in  an  art,  for  his  excellence  in  which  he  has  already  received 
from  Gentlemen  in  England  the  most  distinguishd  marks  of 
applause  and  Friendship.  His  Wife,  a most  amiable  and  fine 
Woman,  remains  in  Boston  with  the[i]r  three  Children,  Named 
Elizabeth  Clarke,  John  Singleton,  and  Mary,  three  as  noble 
Children  as  are  in  America.  I have  not  room  in  this  to  give  you 
any  account  of  my  tour  to  this  place,  350  miles  from  home, 
which  I left  about  2 months  ago  for  the  recovery  of  my  Health ; 
impaird  by  Nervous  Disorders,  with  which  I have  been  for 
some  time  troubld.  By  the  middle  of  Decm’r  I hope  to  have  a 
happy  sight  of  my  Hon’d  Mother  in  Boston.  I conclude  with 

1 Peter. 


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J774 


requesting  your  Blessing  and  Prayers,  and  a Contin[ua]nce  of 
your  Regard  and  Correspondence],,  I am,  Dear  and  Hon’d 
Uncle,  your  Dutiful  Nephew  and  Humble  Ser’t., 

H.  P. 

P.  S.  My  Dutiful  regards  attend  my  Aunt  S[ingleton]  my 
Uncle  and  A[unt]  Cjooper],  my  Love  to  my  Cousins.  I write  to 
aunt  C[ooper]  but  am  at  a loss  for  a direction.  I have  directed 
to  her  at  Coopers  Hill  near  Limerick.  I pray  you  to  favour  me 
with  a perticular  direction  for  yourself,  as  also  for  her,  for  fear 
my  Letters  to  her  in  which  I request  it  should  miscarry. 

Nov.  10,  1774. 


Henry  Pelham  to  his  mother 
Dear  and  Hond.  Madam, 

In  my  last  to  you  from  Philadelphia  I informed  you  that  I 
should  sett  out  in  a few  days,  when  I expected  soon  the  Happy- 
ness  of  seeing  you  and  my  other  Fr[i]ends  in  Boston  in  Health 
and  Peace.  Mr.  Mifflin 1 a Gentleman  of  great  influence  in  the 
City  upon  my  arrival  there  was  so  ingaged  with  the  Congress 
of  which  he  was  a Member  as  this  precluded  him  from  giving 
me  (which  he  was  much  inclined  to  do)  an  introduction  to 
Governor  Penn2  and  his  Collection  of  Paintings,  which  is  very 
great  and  Eligant,  and  to  Governor  Hamilton’s3  and  Judge 
Allen’s4  Family.  These  Gentlemen  [are]  the  first  in  America  for 
fortune  and  Character,  and  highly  distinguish’d  for  their  love 
and  Patronage  of  the  Polite  Arts  and  Artists,  and  who  have  it 
very  much  in  their  power  to  do  me  a Kindness  either  here  or  in 
Europe.  I thought  it  imprudent  not  to  be  introduced  to,  espe- 

1 Thomas  Mifflin.  2 John  Penn  (1729-1795). 

3 James  Hamilton  ( c . 1710-1783),  of  Bush  Hill. 

4 William  Allen  (c.  1710-1780). 


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Copley -Pelham  Letters 


273 


daily  as  it  was  offered1  for  these  Reasons,  and  at  the  earnest 
solicitations  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Startin,  and  by  the  advice  of 
Doctor  Morgan,  who  much  interests  himself  in  shewing  me 
every  mark  of  Civility  in  his  Power,  I have  been  induced  to 
make  my  tarry  at  Philadelphia  a fortnight  Longer  than  I at  first 
intended,  now  I have  the  Happyness  of  presenting  you  with 
my  duty  from  this  place 2 which  is  abov[e]  half  way  between 
Philadelphia  and  Boston.  Yesterday  and  today  I have  begun 
20  Guines  worth  of  Buisness  here,  the  Heads  and  hands  of 
which  only  I shall  finish  here,  and  send  the  Pictures  home  to 
finish  the  other  Parts.  I have  found  it  extremly  difficult  to 
procure  meterials  here  for  oil  Paint’g,  but  have  after  some  time 
got  them.  I have  only  time  as  the  Post  is  just  setting  out  to 
recommend  myself  to  your  Blessing  and  Regard,  and  after 
present’g  my  Duty  to  you,  and  Love  and  Compliments  to  my 
other  Friends  and  Acquaintances]  to  subscribe  Dear  and  H.  M. 
Your  dutifull  Son  and  affection’e  Servt., 

H.  P. 

I dont  expect  to  remain  above  a fortnigh[t]  in  this  Place, 
indeed  am  certain  I shall  not,  and  am  pleased  in  having  Com- 
pany a Son  of  D.  E.  home  with  me,  which  is  very  pleasing  upon 
the  Road,  Especially^this  season  of  the  year. 

Nov.  18,  [1774]. 

Henry  Pelham  to  Charles  Startin 

N[ew]  H[aven],  Novr.  21,  1774. 

Dear  Sir 

The  very  solitary  ride  I have  had  for  a few  Days  past  forms 
a very  disgusting  Contrast  to  the  amusing  Scenes  I have  for 

1 Erased:  “and  could  not  well  be  refused.”  2 New  Haven. 


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T774 


some  weeks  past  enjoyed,  and  makes  me  remember  with 
redoubld  ardour  and  Regard  the  agreable  Company  I left  at 
Philadelphia,  in  whose  Conversation  and  Friendship  I recently 
took  so  much  Pleasure.  The  kind  manner  in  which  It  was 
desired  prompts  me  to  take  up  the  Pen  with  peculiar  readiness 
to  acquaint  you  of  my  arrival  here,  but  Gratitude  more  imme- 
diacy commands  it  to  return  you  and  Mrs.  Startin  those  thanks 
which  I shall  ever  think  due  for  these  kind  polite,  and  very 
friendly  marks  of  attention  and  Regard  I have  experienced  from 
your  Family  since  I left  home,  accept  my  sincere[s]t  thanks, 
and  believe  I shall  ever  seek  and  ever  think  myself  happy  in 
Opertunities  of  shewing  the  gratefull  sence  I entertain  of  your 
civilities  and  of  retur[n]ing  the  Obligation]  I am  under.  I have 
had  six  of  the  most  disagreable  days  I ever  spent  in  my  life. 
But  of  this  I dont  complain,  considering  that  a motley  Mixture 
of  Pain  and  Pleasure  is  Mans  lot,  how  unreasonable  how  absurd 
would  it  be  to  repine  at  four  [six]  unpleasant  days  when  I have 
just  finish’d  as  many  Weekfs]  which  I shall  ever  rank  among 
the  Happyest  of  my  Life.  The  weither  was  very  fine  and  pleas- 
ant during  most  of  my  ride,  the  last  day  it  clouded  up,  and  I 
had  not  arrived  here  half  an  hour  before  it  rained  very  smartly 
and  so  continued  for  24  hours,  a Days  confinem’t  upon  the  Road 
would  have  made  me  quite  Malencholly.  News  I can  collect 
none,  in  Boston;  every  thing  Remain[s]  quiet,  but  God  only 
knows  how  long  they  will  continue  so.  in  New  York  people 
are  very  uneasy  at  the  Proceedings  in  Your  City,  nobody  can 
find  the  reason  of  the  Carolinas  Exporting  Rice.1  many  there 

1 In  its  “Association,”  October  20,  the  Continental  Congress  pledged  its 
members  to  export,  after  September  10,  1775,  no  “merchandise  or  commodity 
whatsoever  to  Great  Britain,  Ireland,  or  the  West  Indies,  except  rice  to  Europe.” 
Journals  of  the  Continental  Congress  (Lib.  Cong,  ed.),  1.  77. 


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th[i]nk  it  will  oversett  the  whole  scheme,  and  be  productive  of 
general  Murmering  and  discontent.  Some  late  procedings  in 
this  place  are  the  subject  of  altercation  but  it  would  perhaps  be 
deemed  improper  in  me  a Stranger  here  to  enter  into  a Detail 
of  Perticulars;  but  if  proper  might  be  unsafe,  for  tho  this 
Lett[e]r  is  directed  to  you  and  intended  soly  for  your  perusal, 
there  is  no  knowing  who  may  take  the  very  innocent  Liberty 
of  peeping,  and  then  we  well  know  they  claim  unbounded 
freedom  of  Publishing,  further  that  it  can  not  be  justified  upon 
any  principles  that  so  far  from  distressing  Great  Britain  it  is 
entirely  calculated  to  ruin  the  town  of  Newport  by  throwing 
that  valuable  Branch  of  trade  into  the  Hands  of  the  Merchants 
at  Liverpool  and  Bristol.  While  I am  writing  this  I hear  that 
the  town  of  Newport  is  in  the  greatest  Confusion  owing  to  the 
proceedings  of  Congress,  perticularly  the  part  respecting  The 
African1  Trade,  many  of  the  merchants  seem  much  inclined  to 
refuse  obedience  to  their  determinations,  nay  say  they  will  if 
York  should,  tho  they  dare  not  be  singular;  say  that  their 
Deligates 2 have  sold  the  Town  to  gratify  the  Quakers  of  Phila- 
delphia. this  is  intelligence  you  may  rely  upon  and  which  con- 
sidering all  Circumstances  gives  me  much  uneasiness.  Should 
the  Continental  Association  be  broke  thro  it  will  still  tend  to 
prolong  that  unhappy  dispute  which  is  so  subversive  of  the 
publick  Tranquillity  of  this  Country,  and  is  so  inimical  to  the 
private  Peace  of  its  Inhabitants,  will  deprive  us  of  a fair  trial  of 

1 Erased:  “the  slave.”  The  “Association ” further  pledged  the  members  of 
the  Congress:  “We  will  neither  import  nor  purchase  any  slave  imported  after  the 
first  day  of  December  next;  after  which  time,  we  will  wholly  discontinue  the 
slave  trade,  and  will  neither  be  concerned  in  it  ourselves,  nor  will  we  hire  our 
vessels,  nor  sell  our  commodities  or  manufactures  to  those  who  are  concerned  in 
it.”  Ibid.,  77.  Newport  was  the  leading  port  engaged  in  the  trade. 

2 The  delegates  from  Rhode  Island  were  Stephen  Hopkins  and  Samuel  Ward. 


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its  utility,  and  will  not  save  us  from  any  disagreable  Conse- 
quences which  may  arise  from  the  Resentment  of  Britain  to 
that  measure. 

The  smallpox  is  among  the  Troops  in  Boston,  this  calls  to 
Remembranc[e]  the  pleasing  event  of  Mrs.  Lees  recovery  from 
that  disagreable  Disorder,  and  from  the  as  disagreable  appre- 
hension of  it,  of  which  I sincerely  congratulate  her;  to  whom  and 
Mr.  Lee  I beg  my  respectful  Compliments  may  be  made.  I shall 
ever  think  myself  Honourd  in  Your  Friendship  and  Corre- 
spondanc[e].  my  affection  [a]  te  Regards  ever  attend  you  and 
Mrs.  Startin.  I conclud[e]  with  requesting  a line  from  you. 
wishing  you  and  Connections  every  Happyness  attendant 
up  [on]  the  Happiest,  I am,  my  Dear  Friend,  your  affect,  and 
oblige[d]  Hum.  S. 

[iVo  signature.] 

[Charles  Startin ] to  Henry  Pelham 

Philada.,  Deer.  3d,  1774. 

Dear  Sir, 

I duly  receiv’d  your  much  esteem’d  favour  from  New  Haven 
of  the  20th.  Ulto.  and  should  have  answer’d  it  sooner,  but  have 
been  confined  with  a severe  Fit  of  the  Asthma.  You  much 
overrate  the  trifleing  Civilitys  shewn  you  here,  believe  me 
sincere  when  I say  that  much  more  was  due  to  your  merit  and 
the  esteem  I hold  you  in.  it  will  always  give  me  real  pleasure 
to  render  you  any  acceptable  Service,  and  I hope  you  will 
command  me  with  the  Freedom  of  a Friend. 

I wish  I could  send  you  any  News  but  we  have  none  here 
worth  relating.  Politicks  run  extremly  high  indeed.  Our  Lords 
and  Masters,  the  high  and  mighty  Committee  Men,  have  now 
enter’d  upon  their  department  to  put  the  Non  Importation 


i?74 


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277 


agreem’t  in  force;  So  that  as  a wity  writer  observes,  instead  of 
being  devour’d  by  a Lion,  we  are  to  be  gnawed  by  rats  and 
Vermin.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  L[ee]  are 
both  well,  and 
nothing  further 
has  transpired  in 
the  Squib  way.  they  with  my  wife  Join  me  with  proper  Re- 
spects, and  good  wishes  for  your  health  and  welfare. 

I shall  always  be  happy  to  hear  from  you,  and  remain  with  real 
regard,  Your  Sincere  and  Affectionate  Friend  and  H’ble  ser’t. 

P.  S.  As  I have  wrote  with  some  freedom  on  Publick  affairs 
I thought  perhaps,  the  Signature  might  be  as  well  Omitted.1 

Henry  Pelham  to  Dr.  John  Morgan 

N[ew]  H[aven],  Deer.  4,  1774. 

Sir, 

To  the  many  favours  already  confered  on  me  I must  beg  you 
to  add  one  more  if  consistantwith  your  time  and  inclination. 

A little  minute  of  the  Ladys  name,  who  painted  the  charm’g 
portrait  in  your  Possesion  which  I so  much  admire,  and  of 
which,  by  you[r]  kindness  I have  a Copy,  with  he[r]  age  and  the 
time  when  and  the  place  where  she  did  it,  and  any  other  pertic- 
ulars  you  may  pleas  [e]  to  add,  will  (by  putting  it  upon  my  Copy) 
ennable  me  to  gratify  some  antiquary  into  whose  hands  time 
may  threw  it,  some  future  Walpole  who  may  think  its  want  of 
meritt  happyly  attoned  for  by  being  the  Portrait  of  the  justly 
celebrated  An[gelica],  and  being  an  authentick  tho  deficient 
Copy  from  an  original  painting  of  that  truly  ingenious  and 

1 This  letter  is  in  Charles  Startin’s  handwriting. 


* > 


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Capital  Artist.  The  Perticulars  you  did  me  the  favou[r]  to 
relate  of  that  Picture  and  the  Lady  have  so  far  sliped  my 
memory  as  to  preclude  my  giving  with  certa[i]nty  that  infor- 
mation I could  wish. 

I am  induced  to  trouble  you  with  this  request  from  recollect- 
ing the  regret  Mr.  Walpole  warmly  expresses  in  his  Anecdotes 
of  Paint’g  at  the  Artists’  neglect  of  giving  on  the  back  of  their 
Portraits  the  name  and  other  perticulars  of  the  Persons  for 
whom  they  are  done;  an  Indeferent  Artist  he  observes  by  doing 
that  may  often  stamp  a considerably]  Value  upon  an  otherwise 
indefere[n]t  Picture. 

Your  Letters  to  Doctr.  Jones  and  Mr.  Bossley  I had  the 
pleasure  of  delivering  to  those  Gentlemen.  A few  days  I hop[e] 
will  give  me  the  Happyness  of  seeing  Mr.  Stillman  and  deliver’g 
his  Letter. 

My  thanks  are  due  for  the  many  Civilities  I reed,  from  you 
in  Philadelphi[a]  and  for  the  Hand  of  you[r]  Friendship  accept 
them  with  my  respectfull  Comfpliments]  to  yourself  and  Mrs, 

M , and  believe  me  to  be  with  Esteem  Sir,  You[r]  Obliged 

and  most  Obdt.  humbl.  Sert. 

H.  P. 

P S.  Mr.  Startin  will  take  the  Care  of  and  transmitt  me  any 
answer  you  may  Honor  me  with,  but  whi[c]h  I beg  may  not 
intrude  upon  you[r]  time  and  important  Buisness. 

Henry  Pelham  to  Charles  Startin 

New  Haven,  Decmr.  12,  1774. 

Dear  Sir, 

I am  highly  pleased  in  having  a place  in  your  memory  and 
friendship.  Your  very  kind  and  esteemed  Letter  of  the  20 


1774 


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279 


Decem’r  is  an  addition  to  the  many  favours  already  Rec’d  and 
a fresh  Instance  of  your  politeness,  and  of  the  agreable  manner 
in  which  you  render  your  friends  easy  and  happy.  Could  I find 
words  adequate  to  my  Ideas  to  thank  you  with,  I would  use 
them,  as  I cant  I must  content  myself  with  simply  saying  that 
I highly  value  your  Friendship,  and  am  honord  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  your  good  Opinion  and  Regard.  I am  too  well  ac- 
quainted with  you  in  the  least  to  doubt  your  Sincerity.  But 
even  my  Vanity  raised  as  it  is  by  the  Politeness  and  marks 
of  attention  I have  experienced  since  I left  home,  cant  pre- 
vent my  denying  your  assertion  that  I much  overrate  the 
Civilities  shown  me  at  Philadelphia  and  that  much  more  was 
due  to  my  Merit.  I am  willing  you  should  think  I have 
more  than  I really  have  as  I reap  a material  benefit  from  your 
mistake. 

Some  of  the  inclosed  Letters  are  to  me  of  considerable 
Consequence,  you  will  do  me  a great  kindness  if  you  will  for- 
ward them  by  the  first  Vessell  sailing  for  Ireland. 

I must  solicit  your  and  Mrs.  Startins  Interest  to  induce  Mr. 
Clark1  to  sitt  for  his  Picture.  I consider  this  as  the  only  chance 
of  doing  it.  Brotr.  Cfopley],  it  is  very  probable,  will  remain  in 
England,  and  where  1 shall  be  nex[t]  Summer  Heaven  only 
knows.  I pray  it  may  n[o]t  be  a worse  place  than  Boston.  I 
shall  be  much  restrained  from  urging  Mr.  C.,  fearing  he  will 
think  me  differently  interested  from  what  I really  am.  I wish 
sincerely  wish  to  gratify  myself  in  having  an  Opertunity  to 
please  some  of  my  perticular  friends,  and  to  preserve  the 
likeness  of  a Gentleman  whose  distinguish ’d  Merit  has 
attracted  my  Veneratiofn]  and  Respect.  Can  I but  admire 
the  man  whose  Virtues  have  silenced  the  envenomed  tongue  of 

1 Richard  Clarke. 


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party  Malice,  and  whose  Character  in  every  shape  has  re- 
mained unempeach’d  by  the  Gall  dipt  pen  [of]  Faction? 

I inclose  a rough  sketch  for  a picture  frame,  which  I think 
would  be  very  pretty  and  neat  if  made  of  metal  washd  like 
some  of  the  washed  buckles.  I have  seen  one  in  Gold  of 
exqu[i]site  Workmanship  nearly  like  this,  that  pleased  me  very 
much.  Those  who  are  used  to  things  of  that  kind  might  pos- 
sably  invent  a neater  pattern.  They  must  be  Well  finishd,  well 
gilt  and  be  very  neat,  or  they  will  not  answer  the  purpose  of 
omiminting  a minature  picture.  It  would  be  best  to  have  two 
differe[n]t  sizes,  as  I have  drawn  them.  I would  be  glad  to  have 
half  a Dozen  of  each,  and  doubt  not  I should  want  more. 
Should  only  one  size  be  made  I would  chuse  the  largest,  and 
that  exact  to  the  pattern  which,  if  you  app[r]ove,  please  to  send 
it  to  Birmingham. 

I conclude  in  a great  Hurry,  as  I am  just  setting  out  for 
Boston,  my  Disoblegiant1  now  waits  at  the  door.  God  Grant 
you  and  Mrs.  Startin  Heaven’s  choicest  Blessings  Health  and 
Peace:  Remember  me  kindly  to  her,  and  believe  me  my  dear 
friend  to  be  yours  entirely  and  afectionately. 

H.  P. 

N B.  two  or  3 Requestfs]  mor[e],  and  then  I have  done.  Be 
carefull  of  your  Health.  Please  to  present  my  respectfull 
Comp’s  to  Mr.  L[ee]2  and  Lady.  Be  kind  eno  when  you  favou[r] 
me  with  a line,  which  I hope  will  be  soon,  to  mention  what 
Postage  you  pay  for  this  Pacquet  that  I may  pay  you  as  you 
denot. 


1 “ Carrage,”  erased. 


2 Joseph  Lee. 


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281 


Adam  Babcock  to  Henry  Pelham 

New  Haven,  Deer.  24th,  1774. 

Dear  Sir, 

The  Business  at  Town-Meeting  was  so  very  arduous  that 
I could  not  leave  it  a moment  to  take  leave  of  You  the  Day 
You  left  us.  I hope  You  will  be  good  eno’  to  excuse  me  in  this 
n[e]glect  which  was  unavoidable,  the  main  Point  in  View — the 
demolition  of  Liberty-Pole-Committee,  — we  could  not  come 
to,  on  that  Day,  and  the  Town-Meeting  was  adjourned  to  the 
Tuesday  of  this  Week,  and  with  great  perseverance  and  not 
without  some  noise  on  their  side,  we  obtaind  a Vote  from  the 
Town  to  dissolve  that  meeting,  so  that  I hope  matters  will  go 
on  quietly  with  us  for  some  time  at  least. 

I designd  to  have  given  You  money  eno’  to  have  bot.  me  76 
Coper  plate  Tiles  for  my  Chambers,  and  5 ps.  of  neat  paper, 
blue  Ground  with  a proper  proportion  of  Bordering  for  one 
Chamber.  I beg  You  would  buy  me  these  things  and  send  them 
by  one  of  the  Providence  covered  Wagons,  directed  to  the  Care 
of  Doer.  Jabez  Bowen  at  Providence,  to  be  forwarded  by  him  to 
Mr.  John  Bours  at  New-Port.  if  You  are  so  good  as  to  send 
these  the  Day  after  You  recieve  this,  they  will  doubtless  come 
time  eno’  for  my  Little  Sloop  to  take  them  at  New-Port;  but 
if  it  puts  You  to  any  inconvenience,  I beg  You  would  omit  it, 
as  I shall  hardly  make  use  of  them  till  Spring,  the  Glass  for  the 
little  Picture  You  will  please  to  forward  to  me  at  any  Rate, 
and  in  that  way  that  You  judge  best,  and  an  accot.  of  all  with 
the  Case  for  the  pictures.  I shall  embrace  the  first  safe  hand  to 
send  You  the  Money. 

I hope  You  had  an  agreeable  Journey,  at  least  as  much  so  as 
the  Season  would  allow  of,  and  that  You  found  Your  Friends 


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and  Connections  well.  Mrs.  Smith  presents  Her  Compliments 
to  You.  be  pleased  to  accept  those  of  the  Season  from  me  to- 
gether with  my  best  Wishes,  and  when  You  write  Mr.  Copeley 
don’t  forget  mine  to  Him,  nor  to  his  amiable  Lady  neither, 
when  You  see  Her.  and  believe  me  to  be  most  sincerely  and 
cordially  Yours, 

Adam  Babcock. 

P.  S.  Mrs.  Smiths  Picture  I shall  send  You  by  my  Sloop. 

I should  chuse  the  Tyles  all  of  different  Figures  — and  not 
one  side  of  the  Fire  Place  like  the  other,  if  there  is  variety  eno\ 

Dr.  John  Morgan  to  Henry  Pelham 

Philada.,  Deer.  27,  1774. 
Sir, 

In  answer  to  your  favr.  of  the  4th  Inst.  I am  to  inform  You 
that  the  Portrait  in  my  Possession  which  I lent  You  to  copy  is 
an  original  Portrait  of  the  justly  celebrated  Painter  Angelica 
Mariana  Kaufman,  done  by  herself  at  Rome,  at  the  Age  (as 
nearly  as  I can  recollect  at  this  distance  of  time)  of  about  19 
Years.  It  was  done  by  her  and  sent  to  me  at  my  own  desire. 
She  had  been  labouring  for  some  time  under  an  Indisposition 
for  which  she  was  pleased  to  take  my  Advice.  The  seat  of  her 
Disorder  was  in  her  Stomach  and  proceeded  from  Indigestion. 
I believe  it  arose  from  her  sedentary  Life  and  close  Application 
to  Painting,  to  which  she  was  so  attentive,  that  sometimes, 
when  employ’d  in  copying  the  Paintings  of  Great  Masters  that 
were  hung  up  in  the  Palaces  at  Rome  to  which  she  was  admitted, 
she  would  not  eat  the  whole  day. 

I suppose  her  to  be  at  this  time  about  28  or  29  Years  of  Age. 
On  my  leaving  Rome  she  wanted  to  pay  me  for  my  Advice. 


1774 


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283 


I refused  taking  any  Money  from  her  on  which  she  insisted  on 
making  me  a present  of  a piece  of  painting,  of  her  doing,  and 
desired  I would  pitch  on  some  piece  of  any  of  the  great  Masters 
that  she  could  conveniently  copy,  and  she  would  execute  it  for 
me.  I thereupon  begged  her  own  Portrait,  as  of  an  Artist  I 
greatly  valued,  and  on  asking  her  Father’s1  permission,  which 
he  readily  granted,  she  promised  to  send  it  to  me,  which  she  did 
about  a year  after  when  she  came  to  London2  with  a Letter 
accompanying  it,  — being  induced  to  visit  England  from  the 
great  Encouragement  given  to  her  by  the  english  Nobility  and 
Gentlemen  then  at  Rome.3 

Other  Particulars  of  her  History  since  she  came  to  London 
may  be  better  learned  from  Mr.  Copley.  Thus  I have  gratified 
you  in  what  you  requested  to  know  of  this  most  valuable  Lady. 

At  the  Age  of  10  Years,  she  spoke  English  and  French  as 
familiarly  as  if  they  were  her  Native  Language,  which  she 
learned  chiefly  by  conversation.  She  could  read  Spanish  with 
equal  ease,  tho’  for  want  of  Opportunities  to  practice  it,  did 
not  pretend  to  be  Mistress  of  it;  but  she  was  quite  Mistress  of 
the  Italian,  and  of  German  which  was  her  native  Tongue.  She 
had  an  agreeable  person,  a sweet  and  open  Countenance,  of  a 
very  modest  engaging  Deportment,  and  was  no  small  proficient 
in  Musick.  At  her  first  coming  to  England  she  was  soon  pre- 
sented to  the  Queen4  and  employed  to  take  her  Majesty’s 
Portrait.  In  short  she  was  in  a fair  way  of  rising  to  fame  to 
honour  and  fortune,  but  an  unlucky  Marriage  was  a great  Clog 
to  her.5 

1 Johann  Josef  Kauffmann.  2 She  went  to  England  in  1766. 

3 This  portrait  is  probably  that  in  the  Pennsylvania  Academy  of  the  Fine 
Arts,  deposited  by  Miss  Elizabeth  Powell. 

4 Queen  Charlotte. 

6 To  Count  de  Horn,  an  impostor  of  many  aliases. 


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As  she  is  an  Acquaintance  I highly  esteem  I do  not  expect, 
by  satisfying  your  request,  You  can  think  I would  have  these 
particulars  known  to  any  but  Persons  of  Merit,  Prudence  and 
delicate  sentiments.  Should  it  be  known  to  Angelica  that  I had 
thus  attempted  to  sketch  her  Character,  it  might  be  taken  amiss, 
as  it  could  not  fail  to  hurt  her  delicacy,  of  which  you  will  be 
pleased  to  take  Notice,  nor  let  any  person  Copy  a feature  of  her 
Character  from  this  Letter,  which  in  every  particular  falls  infi- 
nitely short  of  her.  With  this  caution  I conclude,  wishing  You 
all  Happiness  and  remain,  Sir,  Your  Most  Obed’t  humble  Serv. 

John  Morgan. 

A Bill  for  Portraits 

Boston  The  Honble.  Isaac  Royall  Esqr.  to  J.  S.  Copley  Dr.1 

£ s d 

To  a packg  Box  omitted  in  former  Acct 0..  9.-4 

To  a portrait  in  Crayons  of  Miss  Polly  Royall 5..12..0 


To  gold  carved  Frame  for  Do 4..  4..0 

To  London  Crown  Glass  for  Do 19..12..02 

To  his  Lady’s  portrait  half  Length 19..12..0 

To  his  own  Do  Do  19..12..0 


To  portraits  of  Mr.  Mackintosh  & Lady 14.  . o.  .0 

Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 

Boston,  Jany  [27],  1775. 

My  dear  Brother, 

With  eagerness  I embrace  each  Opertunity  to  testify  the 
pleasu[r]e  I take  in  your  Remembranc[e]  and  Correspondanc[e] 
and  to  give  you  those  assurerances  of  affection  and  Esteem 
which  this  imperfect  mode  of  intercourse  will  allow  and  which 
1 In  Pelham’s  handwriting.  2 Obviously  an  error  in  copying. 


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Copley -Pelham  Letters 


285 


I flatter  myself  you  will  accept,  as  flowing  from  the  sincerest 
Emotions  of  a tender  and  greatefull  Heart.  I cant  omitt  this 
Conveyance  tho’  it  is  very  Circuitous  to  wish  you  the  greatest 
Joy  upon  the  pleasing  and  most  happy  Event  of  my  Dear  Sis- 
ters being  safe  abed,  and  upon  the  enlargement  of  your  family 
by  the  Birth  of  another  Son,  who  I pray  Heaven  may  be  a 
Blessing  and  a Comfort  to  you.  Certain  I am,  was  it  possable 
by  Words  to  give  Ideas  of  material  Objects,  you  would  expect 
a discription  of  your  little  Son.  Be  assured,  for  I can  with 
safety  affirm  it  that  when  you  see  the  finest  Child  ever  ani- 
mated by  the  Pencill  of  Guido,  it  will  give  but  an  imperfect 
Idea  of  the  fineness  of  my  new  Cousin. 

I ardently  Wish  this  Letter  may  have  a speedy  Passage  to 
you  as  I am  perswaded  its  contents  will  make  you  very  happy 
and  releive  many  and  anxious  hour,  and  prevent  many  a dis- 
agreable  Thought.  My  Sister  was  brot  to  bed  the  13th  Inst, 
has  been  and  is  now  as  well  as  could  possably  be  expected  for 
a person  in  her  situation.]  The  weather  has  been  remarkably 
favorable  for  her,  being  very  warm  and  pleasant,  one  of  the 
finest  Winters  I Remember.  I was  honord  by  her  appointment 
with  presenting  in  Company  with  Mr.  Clarke  and  Miss  Lucy, 
the  infant  at  the  font,  a Candidate  for  Baptism  in  which  Mr. 
Walter  officiated  and  named  Him  Clarke.1  I must  now,  my  dear 
Brother,  return  you  my  most  greatefu[l]  thanks  for  the  great 
Happyness  you  have  afforded  me  by  your  very  tender  instruc- 
tions and  entertaining  Letters.  It  makes  me  really  feel 
asshamed  that  I have  reced  7 Letters  from  you  since  I wrote 
to  you  last;  and  have  been  fearfull  you  might  take  it  amiss  and 

1 This  child,  left  in  America  when  Mrs.  Copley  embarked  in  May  for  Eng- 
land, being  too  young  and  feeble  to  bear  the  passage,  soon  after  died.  The 
child  was  named  Clarke  Copley. 


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think  me  neglegent;  but  I console  myself,  that  as  impossabili- 
ties  are  not  to  be  effected  you[r]  candour  will  attribute  it  to 
some  material  Difficulty.  There  has  been  no  oppertunity  that 
have  come  to  my  knowledg[e]  since  I left  Philadelphia.  Indeed 
I have  been  much  out  of  the  Way  of  the  London  Vessels,  as 
none  sail  from  Connecticut  w[here]  I spent  a Month,  and  the 
Boston  port  Bill  still  continues.1 

I sincerly  Congratulate  you  [upon  your]  Arrival  at  Rom[e] 
and  please  myself  in  the  expectation  of  soon  receiving  your 
discription  of  that  seat  of  Scienc[e]  with  an  Account  of  the 
Pa[i]nting  of  Raphael,  Michael  Angelo,  etc.,  which  [with]  you[r] 
discription  of  places  of  less  consequenc[e],  assure  me  will  be 
very  entertain’g  and  highly  instructive  to  me.  Whenever  I 
think  of  your  Letters  I cant  but  feel  the  most  gratefull  sensa- 
tions, for  the  great  Kindness  you  show  me.  I want  word[s] 
fully  to  express  myself  upon  the  subject. 

As  the  limits  of  my  paper  shortens  I must  omitt  till  my  next, 
which  will  go  in  Cap’n  Robson,  who  sails  in  about  a fortnight, 
an  Acount  of  Publick  Affairs,  Replys  to  some  parts  of  your 
several  Letters,  an  Acct  of  my  Phila’a  tour  etc.  But  before  I 
conclude  mu[s]t  not  omitt  acquainting  [you]  that  Dear  Hond. 
Mamma2  continues  in  her  usual  Health.  She  desires  me  to 
present  you  her  Kindest  Love  and  Blessing,  and  to  assure  you 
she  takes  part  in  the  Joy  arising  from  Mrs.  Copleys  present 

1 The  sheet  containing  the  first  part  of  this  letter  has  been  folded  as  though  for 
wrapping  — and  upon  it  is  written  Messalenious  Medals.  What  follows,  together 
with  the  first  draft  of  the  note  to  Jonathan  Clarke,  January  28,  1775,  is  written 
upon  hand-ruled  music  paper  bearing  the  date  “Sepr.  30, 1747,”  probably  in  the 
handwriting  of  Peter  Pelham,  the  artist.  There  is  a third  small  piece  of  paper 
with  phrases  to  be  inserted  in  the  two  fragments,  which  is  the  only  indication 
that  they  are  parts  of  the  same  letter. 

2 Erased:  “ has  been  rather  unwell  for  some  time  past  but  has  again  recov[ere]d 
her  usual  Health.” 


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Happy  Situation  and  desires  her  congratulation  upon  the 
Event,  as  does  also  Brother  and  Sister  Pelham.  I have  spent  a 
couple  of  Hours  this  Even’g  very  agreably  at  Mr.  Bromf  [iel]d[’s] 
chatting  upon  vario[us]  points,  Pollitick[s],  etc.  He  desires  me 
to  tell  you  that  he  continues  of  the  same  principles  in  politicks, 
and  she  begs  me  to  assure  you  that  she  has  not  in  the  least 
altered  her  Sentiments.  They,  with  their  very  amiable  Miss 
Sally  and  Mr.  Harry,  desire  their  kind  Love  etc.  We  all  unite 
in  prese’g  the  Compliments  of  the  season  to  you  and  youjr] 
fellow  traveller.1  In  my  last  I informed  you  that  my  Health 
was  rather  indiferent.  I am  happy  now  in  inform’g  you  that 
my  journey  by  God’s  Blessing  has  had  the  wished  for  good 
effect  in  perfectly  restor’g  it.  It  grow[s]  late.  I wish  you  a good 
Night. 

May  each  gracious  Wing  from  Heaven  of  those  that  minister 
to  erring  man  Near  Hovering  Secure  [?]  thy  slumbers  with 
present  [?]  Sun  [?]  Of  Britest  Vision;  whisper  to  thy  Heart  that 
[unfinished] 

Henry  Pelham  to  Charles  Startin 

. Boston,  Jany.  31,  1775. 

Dear  Sir, 

My  Fri[e]nd  Mr.  Russell  going  for  your  City  affords  me  a 
convenient  opertunity  of  acknowledging  the  rece’t  of  youjr] 
agreable  Letter  of  the  13  Inst,  and  of  thank’g  you  for  the  care 
of  the  Letters  I troubled  you  with.  The  affair  of  sitting  has 
been  mentioned  to  Mr.  Clarke,  and  his  answer  is  such  as 
flatters  me  he  will  grattify  the  desires  of  his  Friends.  I shall 
take  the  first  Opertunity  to  press  the  matter  I hope  to  effect. 
You  have  doubtless  before  this  heard  of  Mrs.  Copley’s  being 

1 George  Carter. 


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safe  abed.  I present  you  and  Mrs.  Startin  Congratulations 
upon  the  birth  of  another  Nephew,  a fine  Boy,  Baptized  by 
the  Name  of  Clarke.  We  have  just  Rec’d  the  King’s  Speech. 
I inclose  it  with  A[da]ms  Commentary  upon  it.  The  Dye  seems 
to  be  cast!  How  entirely  must  the  spirit  of  Madness  possess 
those  who  stake  their  Happyness  their  all  again[s]t  nothing 
upon  the  cast  of  a Dye.  Our  Sons 1 tho  affect  very  much  to 
redicule  it,  and  say  its  only  a thing  of  cou[r]se  and  what  they 
expected.  I also  inclose  you  a pamphlet  wrote  by  a young 
Gentleman,  a Lieutenant  in  the  Army  here.2  I believe  it  will 
please  you  as  a sensible  dispassionate  and  polite  answer  to 
another  filled  with  invective  attributed  to  Gen’l  Lee.  I was  ren- 
dered very  happy  upon  my  return  hom[e]  to  find  myself  much 
wanted,  and  to  meet  8 Long  Letters  from  my  Brother  Copley, 
giving  a very  entertaining  account  of  his  Journey  from  London 
to  Mersailles  and  a perticular  discretion  of  all  the  Citys  of 
note  thro  which  he  pass’d.  Mrs.  Copley  has  reed,  one  from  him 
dated  28  Octr.  at  Rome  Where  he  had  just  arri[v]ed.  . . .3 

Henry  Pelham  to  Benjamin  West 

Boston,  N.  E.,  Feby.  13,  1775. 
Sir, 

In  a late  Letter  from  Mr.  Copley  he  wishes  me  to  send  some- 
thing to  the  Exhibition;  but  Not  having  time  to  paint  a Picture 
expressly  for  the  purpose,  I had  declined  all  thoughts  of  it  ’till 
finding  one  of  my  Pictures  in  Minature  which  I had  lately  done 
was  going  to  London,  it  occured  to  me  to  Request  Mr.  Ingra- 

1 Of  Liberty. 

2 Strictures  on  “Friendly  Address ” Examined , by  Henry  Barry,  lieutenant 
in  the  Fifty-second  Regiment. 

3 In  Armory,  John  Singleton  Copley , 37,  is  printed  one  of  October  26. 


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Copley-Pelham  Letters 


289 


ham  in  whose  possession  it  is,  and  who  favours  me  by  being 
the  bearer  of  thi[s]  Letter,  to  permitt  its  going  to  the  Exhibition, 
should  you  think  it  has  merit  sufficient  to  entitle  it  to  a place 
in  that  collection,  which  if  it  has,  and  not  be  inconsistant  with 
their  Rules,  I beg  the  favour  of  you  to  send  it,  or  inform  Mr. 
Ingraham  who  it  must  be  given  to  for  that  purpose. 

The  Friendship  that  subsists  between  you  and  my  Brother 
Mr.  Copley  I hope  will  plead  a sufficient  excuse  for  the  trouble 
I now  impose  upon  you.  By  his  More  than  fraternal  Kindness 
I have  been  led  into  the  path  of  Science  and  excited  by  the 
extensive  and  growing  fame  of  two  of  my  Countrymen  in  one 
of  the  most  elegant  Arts  of  polished  Life  am  solicitous  of  merit- 
ing a share  of  publick  Notice.  Diffident  of  my  abilities  I have 
hitherto  declined  obtruding  myself  to  the  view  of  a diserning 
People  distinguish’d  for  their  Taste  in  the  polite  Arts,  nor  should 
now  have  adventured  had  I not  been  encouraged  by  my 
Brothers  advice. 

Not  longer  to  intrude  upon  your  important  time,  I conclude 
wishing  you  may  long  exercise  those  talents  which  have  so 
deservedly  rendered  your  work  Orniments  to  the  Old  and 
yourse[l]f  an  Honour  to  the  new  World.  I am  Sir  with  the 
greatest  Esteem  your  most  humb  Servant, 

H.  P. 

Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 

Boston,  Feby.  16,  1775. 

My  dear  Brother, 

I [take]  the  opertunity  of  Capt.  Robson  to  amuse  myself  in 
scr[i]bling  to  my  deare[s]t  Frie[n]d  a few  random  thoughts, 
some  trifling  anecdotes,  and  some  serious  facts,  among  the 
last  I beg  you  would  place  those  emotions  of  my  love  and 


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1 77  5 


Gratitud[e]  for  your  kindness  and  fr[i]endly  attention  which  I 
want  words  fully  to  express.  I have  just  finish’d  a high  regale, 
the  Reperusal  of  all  your  Instructive  and  affectionate  Letters. 
I never  read  them,  never  think  of  them  without  the  liveliest 
sence  of  my  obligations  to  you  for  the  unaffected  and  endearing 
marks  of  your  Love  and  regard  for  my  wellfare  with  which  they 
are  replete;  I always  feel  myself  Happy  in  recollecting  the 
agreable  Situation  you  are  in,  far  removed  from  the  din  of  civil 
discord  and  faction,  uninterrupted  by  the  tumult  and  cunfu- 
sion  of  licentiousness  and  anarchy,  contemplating  the  works  of 
the  ingenious  and  great  and  cultivate’g  the  charming  arts  of 
Peace  and  Friendship.  I would  not  have  you  suppose  from 
this  that  we  are  altogethe[r]  in  a shock’g  State  ne[i]ther,  for  I 
really  thin[k]  we  are  in  a better  one  than  we  were  some  time 
ago.  Certain  I am  this  town  is  incomparably  more  peaceabfle] 
than  it  was  when  you  left  it,  and  I flatter  myself  that  the  time 
is  approaching  when  Reason  will  aga[i]n  recover  her  empire 
over  the  turbalant  Passons  of  an  enthusiastic  and  misguided 
People,  and  that  jarring  and  hatred,  jealosies,  distrust  and 
mutual  revili[n]gs,  will  give  place  to  the  long  Cataloge  of  exiled 
Virtues;  that  Peace  with  her  swe[e]t  Voice  will  again  hail  this 
the  Happy  Land,  once  more  the  seat  of  Plenty  Justice  Security 
and  Fre[e]dom.  Your  several  Letters  require  no  perticular 
Remarks.  I shall  pass  them  with  observing  that  your  discre- 
tion of  you[r]  journey  is  very  entertain’g  and  the  Civilities  you 
mention  having  rec’d  are  very  flatter’g  to  your  Friends. 

I now  propose  giving  you  some  accou[n]t  of  my  Journey  to 
Phlda.  the  motives  for  it,  my  Health,  I have  already  mentioned. 
I purchasd  a Horse  and  disoblegiant,  and  on  the  18  of  Septm’r, 
in  Company  with  our  Fr[ie]nd[s]  Mr.  Lee  and  Lady,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Startin,  set  out  upon  the  tour  about  two  hours  before  day, 


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291 


hastned  by  an  expected  Visit  from  the  County  [Country?]  Mob, 
Mr.  L.  having  offended  them  by  adjoining  the  Court  which 
they  said  was  a carrying  into  execution  the  regulation  Bill. 
We  mett  with  noth[in]g  remar[k]able  except  Very  fine  Weather 
which  we  had  the  whole  journey,  till  we  ar[r]ived  at  Springfield, 
here  an  unlucky  Visit  from  a Ge[n]tleman,  one  of  the  new  man- 
damus Councellorfs],  who  had  resigned  a few  days  before  upon 
being  most  severely  threatned  and  ill  treated,  affixed  the  name 
of  tory  upon  us  and  was  near  springing  a mine  which  would 
have  entirely  marr’d  our  journey.  This  Occurance,  tho  it  much 
disturbed  me,  afforded  me  some  amusement.  I had  often  seen 
the  proceedings  of  a Boston  Mob,  but  never  of  a Country  one. 
I will  give  you  the  perticulars,  know’g  from  Experience]  the 
pleasure  arrising  from  a minute  detail  of  the  most  trifling 
Occurrances  our  distant  friend[s]  meet  with.  We  had  not 
been  long  at  the  Tavern  wher[e]  we  put  up  at  for  the  night, 
when  a party  of  four  and  t[w]enty  who  had  been  out  that  day 
shooting  Squerels,  mett  there  to  divide  their  booty,  which 
raised  a quarrel  among  them,  this  with  the  plenty  of  Liquer 
they  had  made  them  noisy  and  Riotous.  The  landlord  willing 
to  have  his  hous[e]  .clear  of  this  Confusion  requested  they 
would  depa[r]t,  acquainting  them  that  he  had  travellers  who 
wanted  Rest,  and  with  more  zeal  than  prudence  declared  they 
should  not  have  a drop  more  of  drink.  This  made  them  out- 
ragious,  and  Coll.  Worthington  and  Mr.  Bliss,  two  Fri[e]nds 
of  Government,  coming  out  of  our  Room  and  passing  th[r]o 
theirs,  drew  all  this  Resentment  against  us.  They  said  He  had 
a damn’d  pack  of  Torys  in  his  House  and  they  would  have  us 
out.1  Resistance  on  [our]  pa[r]t  incre[a]s[ed]  the  tumult  on 

1 Erased:  “and  make  us  make  an  acknowledgment  of  our  offences  aga[i]n[s]t 
the  Libertys  of  the  People.’’ 


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theirs.  They  loaded  and  fired  their  musketts,  for  they  were  all 
armed,  in  the  House  and  at  the  Windows.  This  you  may  well 
suppose  created  much  noise  and  Confusion  which  continued 
near  two  hours.  At  length  one  more  peaceably  disposed  than 
the  Rest  pe[r]swaded  them  to  disperse  for  the  night,  and  in  the 
morn’g  insist  upon  our  mak’g  an  Acknowledgment  of  our 
offences,  and  recant  our  principles.  This  with  the  landlord’s 
asking  their  pardon  in  a very  humble  manner,  co[o]lled  them 
down,  so  that  we  had  our  nights  rest.  In  the  morn’g  early  we 

set  out  leaving  those  Sons  of to  find  recantations  where 

they  could.  From  Springfield  to  Newyork  we  met  with  nothing 
extrordina[r]y,  now  and  then  a small  affront  which  use  made 
us  disregard.  We  were  13  days  between  Boston  and  York, 
which  afforded  us  ample  time  for  seeing  the  several  of  agreable 
Town[s]  which  ly  upon  Connecticut  River.  At  Newyork  I saw 
a number  of  clever  houses,  the  Kings  Statue  pleased  me  much, 
round  this  I saw  one  of  those  Iron  fences  which  you  have  de- 
scribed to  me.  We  tarried  here  10  Days,  during  which  I mett 
with  much  Civility  from  Mr.  Curson  and  Mr.  Seaton.  I was 
very  unlucky  here,  Major  Bayard,  Doctor  Auchmuty,  and  two 
or  three  Gentlemen,  being  out  of  town  to  whom  I had  Letters. 
From  York  we  had  a most  delightful  Ride  through  the  Jerseys 
which  took  us  4 days.  The  14  of  O[c]tober  bro’t  us  to  Phila. 
The  regularity,  the  neatness  and  cleaness  of  this  City,  Its 
excellent  and  well  regulated  police,  and  the  simple  plainess  of 
its  Inhabitants],  struck  me  very  agreably.  Here  the  Letters 
I had  procured  several  Valua[ble]  and  Ingenious  Acquaint- 
ances], from  whom  I reed  many  marks  of  politeness  and  atten- 
tion, for  which  I shall  always  think  myself  Obliged.  Doctr. 
Morgan  I found  a polite  sensible  Friendly  Man,  a great  Lover 
of  and  a judge  of  Painting,  and  a perticular  Friend  of  yours. 


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I would  recommend  your  writing  to  him  as  he  is  a man  of 
Consequence  in  the  Literary  World,  a Fellow  of  the  Royal 
Society.  Mr.  Mifflin  shewed  me  much  Civi[li]ty.  I had  another 
oppertun[ity]  of  viewing  with  pleasure  their  admirable  Portrait[s]. 
I was  introducd  to  Governor  Penn,  where  I saw  and  admired 
the  several  Copies  of  which  you  gave  me  a very  just  discription, 
when  you  was  at  New  York.  I was  at  Mr.  Hamiltons,  the  Late 
Governor,  who  rec’d  me  very  politely.  With  Him  and  Mr. 
Allen,  who  had  been  in  Rome,  I had  two  or  three  hours  very 
entertaining  and  instructivfe]  Conversation  on  paint’g  and  the 
Arts.  Mr.  Allen  perticularly  amused  me  with  an  anectdote 
Respect’g  my  Picture  which  you  sent  to  the  Exhibition. 
When  I have  more  Room  I will  give  it  to  you.  [ Unfinished .] 


Henry  Pelham  to  [Charles  Peak  and  Samuel  Okey\ 

Boston,  March  io,  1775. 

Gentlemen, 

A very  Long  absence  from  home  and  a consequent  Hurry  of 
Buisness  upon  my  return  With  the  want  of  a Conveni[en]t 
Opertunity  has  hitherto  prevented  my  noticeing  to  you  the 
receipt  of  your  polite  favour.  I beg  you  would  attribute  my 
omission  to  those  Causes  and  not  to  Neglect  or  Inattention. 
My  thanks  are  due  to  Mr.  Reak  for  his  expressions  of  Dis- 
apo[i]ntment  at  not  seeing  me  when  he  was  in  Boston.  I like- 
wise feel  a real  Regret  in  being  out  of  the  way  when  he  did  me 
the  favour  to  call  upon  me.  As  you  acquaint  me  only  in 
General  with  your  intentions  of  scraping  some  plates  in 
Mezzotinto  from  Designs  of  Mr.  Copley’s  and  Mine : it  is  diffi- 
cult for  me  to  determin[e]  in  what  manner  I can  render  you  any 
assistance].  But  this  I can  with  truth  assure  you  that  I shall 


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take  a great  pleasure  in  affording  you  any  that  is  in  my  power 
and  I beg  you  would  freely  communicate  to  me  any  plans  in 
which  my  service  will  be  acceptable  to  you.  I thank  you  for  a 
promise  of  a proof  of  Mr.  S.  Adams  print.  I take  the  Liberty  of 
mentioning  Doct.  Winthrop  as  a Gentleman  whose  likeness  in 
mezzotinto  I hav[e]  little  doubt  you  would  find  worth  your 
doing.  He  is  well  known  at  home  and  abroad  as  a Politician 
and  a Philosopher,  an  emine[n]t  decendant  of  the  venerable 
Father  of  New  England,  and  a Gentleman  whose  literary 
abilities  have  rendered  his  Name  abroad  an  Honour  to  America 
and  whose  private  Virtues  have  attracted  the  esteem  of  his 
numerous  Friends  at  Home.  Should  you  do  this  I would  send 
you  an  exact  drawing  in  Black  and  White  taken  from  a Paint- 
ing of  Mr.  Copley’s,  which  is  a[n]  elegant  Picture  and  a very 
striking  likeness  and  would  recommend  its  being  done  the  same 
size  of  Doctr  Franklin’s,  to  be  a match  for  it.  I should  be  glad 
to  hear  from  you  upon  the  subject,  and  Conclude  by  sub- 
scribing myself  your  most  Humble  Sert. 

Henry  Pelh[a]m. 

P S.  The  Proof  I deliv[er]ed  to  a Gentleman  sometime  ago 
who  called  for  them  in  your  Names. 

Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

Dear  Brother, 

It  is  a long  time  since  I have  had  the  pleasure  of  wrighting  to 
you;  the  reason  of  this  I hinted  in  a Letter  to  Your  Sister,  and 
at  the  same  time  promiss’d  to  be  very  perticular  when  a private 
conveyance  offered  for  my  letter  to  you,  free  of  expence;  this 
oppertunity  now  presents  itself  and  I will  fulfill  my  promiss 
with  the  utmost  pleasure,  Mr.  Izard  will  soon  leave  this  place 


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on  his  way  to  London,  and  by  him  I send  this,  indeed  the  ex- 
pence of  postage  would  not  have  made  me  delay  wrighting  to 
you  did  not  my  letters  to  Your  Sister,  to  whom  I write  very 
constant,  furnish  you  with  the  most  meterial  things  that  con- 
cern me  in  my  tour.  I am  happrehensive  should  I add  anything 
further  on  this  head  you  may  think  I am  bantering  you,  as  you 
have  much  more  reason  to  apologise  for  yourself.  I have  not 
only  sett  you  an  example,  as  to  the  constant  inteligence,  but 
I leave  no  sircumstance  however  trivi[a]l  unmenshoned  and 
[unexplained,  knowing  by  myself  that  it  must  affoard  you 
pleasure,  to  be  made  acquainted  with  the  smallest  Incidents  in 
the  life  of  a near  friend  at  a distance.  I hope  this  hint  will 
induce  you  to  write  more  frequently  and  much  more  perticular; 
you  should  fill  your  paper;  and  improve  every  oppertunity  to 
send  me  a letter  wrote  on  large  thin  post  paper,  without  a cover 
which  double[s]  the  charge. 

I have  now  been  in  this  City  near  four  months  in  which  time 
I have  studyed  and  practiced  with  much  application  although 
when  I tell  you  I have  only  composed  the  Assention;  painted 
the  portraits  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Izard  in  one  Picture,  this  last  not 
finish [ed]  by  a fortnight,  you  will  think  I have  done  but  little. 
howeve[r]  you  are  to  reflect  that  it  takes  a great  deal  of  time  to 
see  the  Works  of  Art  in  this  place,  also  near  one  month  spent 
in  Naples. 

You  will  be  glad  to  know  in  what  manner  an  Historical  com- 
position is  made,  so  I will  give  it  to  you,  in  that  way  I have 
found  best  myself  to  proceed.  I have  always,  as  you  may 
remember,  considered  the  Assention  as  one  of  the  most  Sublime 
Subjects  in  the  Scripture.  I considered  how  the  Appostles 
would  be  affected  at  that  Instant,  weither  they  would  be  scat- 
tered over  the  Ground  inattentive  to  the  Action  and  converse- 


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in g with  one  another,  or  weither  they  would  croud  together  to 
hear  the  Charge  to  Peter,  and  when  that  was  given  weither 
they  would  not  be  asstonishd  at  their  Masters  rising  from  the 
Earth  and  full  of  the  Godhead  Assend  up  into  Heaven,  no  one 
who  reads  the  Account  in  the  first  Chapter  of  the  Acts  can  be 
at  a moments  loss  to  decide  that  they  would  be  so  asstonish’d, 
and  after  Crouding  together  to  hear  what  Christ  said  to  St. 
Peter  with  vast  attention  in  their  countinances,  they  would 
(keeping  their  places)  and  their  attention  to  the  Assending 
Christ  Absorbed  in  holy  Adoration,  worship  him  as  he  rose 
from  the  Earth,  and  so  far  from  speaking  to  one  another  that 
not  one  of  them  would  reflect  that  he  had  a companion  with 
him.  no  thought  could  at  that  Instant  intrude  it  self  into  their 
minds,  already  fully  possessed  with  Holy  wonder,  some  may 
naturally  be  supposed  to  fall  on  their  knees:  others  with  hands 
uplifted  standing  worship  him.  Some  would  look  steadfastly 
on  him:  others  would  bow  their  heads  and  in  deep  adoration 
with  Eyes  fixt  on  the  Ground  worship  him  with  hands  spread 
or  on  the  breast  but  all  inattentive  to  one  another,  but  two 
Angels  stood  by  them;  and  spake  to  them,  this  would  naturally 
ingage  those  that  were  next  to  them,  and  as  it  were  awaked 
from  a trans,  turn  with  surprise  to  hear  what  they  said  to  them, 
it  would  be  just  to  observe  that  the  Appostolick  Carracter  for- 
bids to  make  the  expression  of  Asstonishment  very  great,  it 
should  be  temperd  with  Love  and  contain  Majesty  of  behavour 
acquired  by  many  times  being  spectators  of  the  Power  of  Christ 
exercised  in  Miracles  of  a Stupendious  nature.  This  General 
Idea  being  considered,  the  next  thing  is  for  the  Artist  to  Warm 
his  Immagination  by  looking  at  some  Works  of  Art,  or  Reading, 
or  conversing;  than  with  pen  or  pencil  sketch  no  matter  how 
incorrect  his  general  Idea,  and  when  he  has  got  so  far,  if  he  can 


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correct  by  his  Ideas  his  Sketch,  he  should  do  it.  but  I found  it 
necessary  to  keep  in  my  Idea  the  effect  of  the  Whole  together, 
which  I determined  would  be  grand  if  managed  in  the  way  I 
here  Sketch  it.  I determined  to  carry  the  figures  in  a circle 
which  would  suppose  a place  that  Christ  stood  in.  this  I fixed 
before  I had  determined  the  disposition  of  a single  figure,  as  I 
knew  it  would  make  a fine  breadth  of  light  and  shadow,  and 
give  a Grand  appearance  to  the  Whole:  and  I am  certain 
Raphael  pursued  a Method  something  like  this,  you  see  in  his 
School  of  Athens  in  perticular  that  it  has  a kind  of  ground  plan 
thus  1 only  a little  Diversified,  but  in  general  it  give[s]  this  Idea. 
I have  taken  this  kind  of  figure  1 supposing  Christ  in  the 
Midst,  you  will  find  in  the  Cartoon  of  the  Death  of  Annanias, 
if  my  memory  is  good,  a figure  of  this  sort 1 in  that  of  Elimus, 
the  Sorcerer,  a figure  not  unlike  that  in  that  of  the  Appostle 
Paul  Preaching  this  figure.1  now  I have  no  doubt  Raphael 
formed  this  general  Ground  plan  before  he  fixed  the  disposition 
of  any  of  his  figures,  than  place[d]  them  on  this  ground,  and 
varyed  here  and  there  as  he  found  it  best  to  break  any  stiffness 
and  formallity  that  would  otherwise  appear  in  the  work,  this 
I can  say  I found  my  advantage  in  fixing  this  Idea  of  the  Whole, 
it  lead  me  to  the  masses  of  Light  and  Shadow  and  allmost  to 
the  disposition  of  some  of  my  principle  Figures.  I forgot  to  men- 
tion the  Transfiguration,  it  is  in  this  form,1  I mean  the  Lower 
part  of  the  Picture.  When  I had  got  thus  far  I sketched  my 
figures,  keeping  the  greatest  simplicity  with  a great  breadth  of 
Light  and  shadow,  that  is  I determined  the  Action  of  each  figure 
and  the  manner  of  wraping  the  Drapery;  than  I took  a Layman 
of  about  3 feet  high,  and  with  a Table  Cloath  wet  and  rung  out 

1 Copley  has  in  these  places  drawn  an  outline,  but  not  of  sufficient  moment 
to  merit  reproduction. 


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1 775 


I disposed  my  Drapery,  and  Sketched  it  with  some  consider- 
able degree  of  eligance,  and  when  I was  uncertain  of  the  effect 
of  any  figure  Or  groop  of  figure[s]  I drew  them  of  the  sise  on  a 
peace  of  Paper  by  themselves  shaded  them  and  traced  them  on 
the  Paper  on  which  my  Drawing  was  to  appear  to  the  Publick, 
just  in  the  way  you  have  seen  me  proceed  with  Draperys,  etc., 
in  my  portraits,  when  I had  got  all  my  out  line  correct  and  clean, 
for  I had  traced  it  all  from  other  sketch[e]s,  I began  to  wash  in 
the  Shades  with  bister,  this  took  me  about  3 Days  and  was  a 
pleasant  Work  as  I had  a correct  out  line  and  the  several  peaces 
from  which  I traced  that  out  line  to  Shade  from.  I found  this 
Ideal  Sketching  at  first  dificult  and  had  recourse  to  the  Looking 
Glass  for  Actions  and  by  determining  the  place  of  heads  hands, 
etc.,  as  well  as  the  propriety  of  the  Action,  which  should  always 
be  determined  by  feeling  it  yourself,  you  will  soon  dispose 
your  Attitudes  so  near  the  thing  that  you  may  exicute  your 
Picture  from  the  life  without  varying  from  your  Drawing  much, 
as  I will  explain.  When  I had  got  my  Sketch  in  the  above  state 
I determined  to  put  it  in  Colours,  so  that  if  I should  paint  it  I 
should  have  nothing  to  alter,  so  I covourd  my  Drawing  squares 
and  a Canvis  of  a Kitcat  sise,  and  Drew  all  the  outline,  than 
procured  a Model  to  sit  for  some  heads,  from  the  same  Model 
I think  I painted  5 heads  varying  the  Colour  of  the  hair,  etc.; 
tho  was  I to  paint  it  large  I should  chuse  a differant  Model  for 
each  head;  but  in  this  it  was  not  necessary  to  be  so  correct. 
From  this  model  I Painted  the  heads,  hands,  feet  the  Draperys; 
tho  I should  chuse  to  dispose  them  for  a large  Picture  again 
and  use  Cloath  rather  than  linen  on  a Layman  as  large  as  life, 
yet  what  I have  in  my  Drawing  is  abundantly  eligant  for  the 
painting  a small  Picture  from.  I must  just  observe  here  that 
although  the  Sketch  is  Ideal,  yet  2 or  3 of  the  figures  I could 


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299 


not  absolutely  determin  on  without  having  the  life.  I frequently 
studied  the  works  of  Raphaiel,  etc.,  and  by  that  kept  the  fire  of 
the  Imagination  alive  and  made  it  my  object  to  produce  a work 
that  might  stand  by  any  others,  sometimes  a fortnigh[t]  would 
pass  before  I could  invent  a single  figure,  and  my  whole  Sketch 
was  once  drawn  and  shaded,  when  the  alteration  of  one  or  two 
figures  seemed  necessary,  on  this  I traced  it  all  on  another 
paper  except  those  figures,  and  drew  them  on  a paper  by  them- 
selves, shaded  them,  and  than  traced  them  with  the  rest,  and 
shaded  the  whole  as  above.  I have  no  doubt  Raphael  pursued 
this  method;  it  appears  so  by  his  differant  drawings.  I hope 
you  will  be  profited  by  this  very  perticular  Account  of  my  pro- 
ceedings in  this  my  first  composition.  I should  have  been  happy 
to  have  had  such  a plain  account  of  the  process  when  I was  in 
America,  and  what  may  seem  trifling  to  a Man  who  has  not 
known  the  want  of  such  information,  I know  to  be  of  the  last 
importance  to  one  who  has  not  had  an  oppertunity  of  knowing 
the  manner  the  great  Masters  have  pursued  their  Goddess  with 
success.  I hope  you  will  procure  Sir  Josh:  Renolds’s  Lectures; 
they  are  the  best  things  that  have  yet  appeared  of  the  kind;  I 
am  sorry  I did  not  send  them  to  you  when  I was  in  London. 
I will  just  observe  I think  Raphael’s  Cartoons  his  best  composi- 
tions; those  you  have,  and  can  procure  his  other  works  in 
Boston  from  Mr.  Greenleaf. 

But  now  I have  given  you  a minute  detail  of  the  manner  of 
making  this  Composition  you  will  be  ready  to  ask,  is  it  good  for 
anything,  and  what  is  its  merrit?  To  you  I can  open  my  Heart 
when  it  would  be  utterly  imprudent  to  do  it  to  an  other,  we 
must  preserve  appearances  and  although  every  man  judges  of 
his  own  Works,  yet  if  they  have  merrit,  and  he  judges  justly  of 
them,  the  world  will  severely  sensure  him  should  he  let  it  be 


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1 77  5 


known  he  is  not  Ignorant  of  that  merrit  the  very  Ignorance  of 
which  would  at  once  rob  him  of  the  merrit  itself.  But  to  you  I 
will  be  open  and  undisguized.  I believe  it  will  support  its 
merrit  in  any  Cumpany  whatever.  Mr.  Hamilton  is  lavish  in 
its  praises,  and  says  he  never  saw  a finer  Composition  in  his  life, 
and  that  he  knows  no  one  who  can  equil  it;  that  it  is  a subject 
the  most  dificult  I could  have  ingaged  in,  that  there  is  no  sub- 
ject but  I can  compose  with  less  Dificulty.  on  Seeing  Mr. 
Izard’s  Picture  he  observed,  you  are  a perfect  Master  of  Com- 
position and  when  he  saw  the  Colourd  Sketch  with  2 or  3 heads 
painted,  he  say’d  he  never  saw  finer  heads ; that  if  I produced 
such  heads  I could  never  want  incoragement.  this  is  very  flat- 
tering, perticularly  as  it  is  the  language  of  all  who  have  seen 
those  works.  Sigr.  Perinesi 1 and  others  will  not  allow  my  Col- 
our’d Sketch  to  be  called  a Sketch  but  a Picture,  and  a finished 
one,  tho  Coloured  but  once.  You  will  want  to  know  if  I intend 
painting  it  large;  but  to  this  I must  reply  doubtfully  (although 
Mr.  Hamilton  says  it  will  establish  my  reputation) . Yet  the  time 
it  will  take  me  makes  the  Dificulty,  and  I could  wish  to  accom- 
pany it  with  one  of  another  kind,  one  of  a Clasick  subject,  that 
of  the  Reconciliation  of  Achilles  and  Agamamnon,  a very  sub- 
lime Subject,  if  I could  produce  as  good  a composition  of  this 
subject  and  exicute  them  as  well  as  I generally  exicute  my  works, 
I should  return  to  England  with  an  Eclaut  that  would  establish 
me  in  the  most  effectual  manner,  not  only  as  a portrait  but  His- 
torical Painter,  but  how  is  it  possable,  from  the  latter  end  of 
March  to  acomplish  such  a Work?  it  would  take  me  6 Months, 
that  would  be  the  time  I aught  to  be  just  entering  England,  be- 
sides I am  in  hopes  that  some  time  or  other  the  Assention  might 
be  apply’d  for  for  an  alter  peace  to  some  Church,  if  so,  it  would 
1 Giovanni  Battista  Piranesi  (1721-1779). 


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Copley -Pelham  Letters 


3QI 


be  as  large  as  life,  and  in  that  case  I should  be  sorry  to  have 
painted  it  of  a smaller  sise,  and  to  paint  it  as  large  as  life  would 
take  a Canvis  24  feet  by  1 8.  so  I cannot  do  that,  unless  it  was  be- 
spoke for  such  an  use.  but  I will  do  my  best  in  all  matters  and 
trust  in  providence  for  a blessing  on  my  affairs.  I was  happy  to 
find  my  Reputation  in  England  so  high.  Govr.  Hutchinson  in- 
formed me  I had  none  to  gain  in  that  place,  but  my  utmost 
vigilence  to  make  good  what  I have  acquired  and  at  least  [to 
support  what  I have  gained] 1 shall  be  made  use  of,  and  I hope 
in  this  to  be  bless’d  as  I have  been  by  the  goodness  of  God  in 
all  my  important  concerns  through  life,  could  any  thing  be  more 
fortunate  than  the  time  of  my  leaveing  Boston  ? poor  America ! 
I hope  the  best  but  I fear  the  worst,  yet  certain  I am  She  will 
finially  Imerge  from  he[r]  present  Callamity  and  become  a 
Mighty  Empire,  and  it  is  a pleasing  reflection  that  I shall 
stand  amongst  the  first  of  the  Artists  that  shall  have  led  that 
Country  to  the  Knowledge  and  cultivation  of  the  fine  Arts, 
happy  in  the  pleasing  reflection  that  they  will  one  Day  shine 
with  a luster  not  inferior  to  what  they  have  done  in  Greece  or 
Rome  in  my  Native  Country. 

I shall  now  proceed  to  give  you  some  reflections  on  the  Works 
of  the  Great  Masters.  I shall  begin  with  Raphael  as  I think 
him  the  greatest  of  The  Modem  Painters,  take  his  excellences 
altogether  and  they  will  out  weigh  those  of  any  other  master, 
yet  I must  joyn  in  the  general  oppinion  that  he  has  more  faults 
than  Dominicino.  Raphael  has  studyed  the  life  very  carefully, 
his  Transfiguration,  after  he  had  got  the  composition  of  it  on 
the  Canvis,  he  has  painted  with  the  same  attention  that  I 
painted  Mr.  Mifflins  portrait  and  his  Ladys.2  in  that  determined 

1 The  words  in  brackets  have  been  erased. 

2 Samuel  and  Rebecca  Edgel  Mifflin. 


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Copley-Pelham  Letters 


1 77  5 


manner  he  has  painted  all  the  heads,  hands,  feet,  Draperys, 
and  background,  with  a plain  simple  body  of  Colours  and  great 
precision  in  his  out  line,  and  all  parts  of  it  from  nature.  I think 
his  chief  excellencys  are,  his  composition,  the  manner  in  which 
he  tells  you  a peace  of  History,  and  the  gracefullness  of  his 
figures  and  force  of  expression,  he  leaves  nothing  unexpressed 
that  is  necessary  to  the  Subject.  I will  give  you  two  instances 
of  this  kind  of  expression : the  first  where  Soloman,  desides  in 
the  case  of  the  Dead  Child,  the  Story  you  know.  Soloman 
orders  the  living  Child  to  be  divided,  the  Exicutioner  holdjs] 
the  Child  and  lifts  the  Sword  to  fulfill  the  Kings  command, 
when  the  mother  rushes  forward  to  stop  the  blow  with  one  hand 
extended,  looks  to  the  King,  and  with  the  other  points  to  the 
other  Woman,  you  see  every  part  of  the  Story  is  expressed, 
and  that  in  as  simple  a manner  as  possable.  after  this  full  and 
expressive  manner  of  relating  the  Story  what  remains  to  be 
done  is  to  give  Carracter  to  the  figures  that  compose  the 
Picture,  this  consists  chiefly  in  making  that  variety  which  we 
find  in  the  life;  and  making  the  heads  to  think  agreable  to  the 
subject  that  is  before  them  and  ingages  their  attention  and 
agreable  to  their  attitudes,  this  part  is  Ideal,  tho  the  Variety 
is  not.  I will  not  contend  with  those  that  say  a man  may  paint 
from  his  Ideas  only,  for  I will  admit  it;  I will  admit  that  all 
men  do;  only  I will  observe  that  the  memory  of  all  men  is  not 
equilly  retentive,  one  man  shall  see  an  object,  and  twelve 
months  after  shall  have  as  perfect  a knowledge  of  it  as  another 
that  has  seen  the  same  object  only  a few  Days ; but  yet  the  man 
who  would  see  an  object  with  an  intention  to  paint  it  in  a few 
Days  still  paints  as  much  from  Idea  as  the  one  who  retains  a 
remembrance  of  it  a year,  for  all  our  Ideas  of  things  Is  no  more 
than  a remembrance  of  what  we  have  seen,  so  that  when  the 


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Copley-Pelham  Letters 


3°3 


Artist  has  a model  in  his  Appartment  and  Views  it,  than  turns 
to  his  picture  and  marks  whatever  he  wishes  to  express  on  his 
Picture,  what  is  it  but  remembrance  of  what  he  has  seen?  at 
the  same  time  I will  allow  the  man  whose  memory  is  such  as  to 
retain  what  he  has  seen  a year  or  two  before  as  perfectly  as  I 
can  one  or  two  Seconds,  is  on  a footing  with  me  when  he  paints 
not  having  the  life  before  him.  But  this  I beleive  no  Man  can 
do.  hence  we  see  all  Ideal  performances  of  but  little  merrit, 
and  those  who  have  made  the  great  figure  in  the  Arts  are  those 
that  have  shewn  more  jeloussy  of  the  goodness  of  their  memory 
and  refreshed  it  by  having  the  life  by  them,  by  which  they 
secured  to  themselves  that  truth  of  Imitation  (and  veriety 
which  in  Nature  is  Infinite)  that  their  Works  appear  a kind  of 
Second  nature  that  delights  the  Spectator.  But  I leave  this 
Digression,  and  return  to  the  Excellencys  of  Raphael,  the 
Second  instance  in  which  Raphael  has  shewn  his  refined  way 
of  thinking  is  in  his  Cartoon  of  Paul  and  Barnabus.  but  as 
Webb1  has  menshoned  this  perticularly,  I shall  refer  you  to  his 
discription  of  it.  so  very  desireous  was  Raphael  of  making  his 
story  understood  at  first  sight,  that  when  he  painted  Joseph 
relating  his  Dreams  tQ  his  bretheren,  as  there  was  nothing  that 
could  lead  to  the  explination  of  the  story,  as  he  could  only 
Paint  a young  lad  talking  to  several  Persons  who  stood  round 
him,  he  has  represented  in  the  Sky  the  Dreams.  The  same 
where  Joseph  interprets  the  Dream  of  Pharoh,  he  has  put 
against  the  Wall  of  the  appartment  two  round  tablets  on  which 
he  has  painted  the  Dreams,  so  that  any  one  must  instantly 
know  the  Story  (if  he  is  not  quite  stupid)  as  soon  as  he  casts 
his  eye  upon  it.  this  is  a kind  of  merrit  not  confin’d  to  the  gen- 

1 Daniel  Webb  (1 71 9?— 1798).  The  reference  is  to  An  Inquiry  into  the 
Beauties  of  Painting. 


3°4 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


J775 


ious  of  the  Painter  only,  but  open  to  the  acquirement  of  all 
men  of  Sense;  and  a man  who  has  not  the  least  knowledge  of 
the  Art  may,  nevertheless,  point  out  the  best  way  of  express- 
ing the  Subject,  or  rather  the  means  to  make  it  understood. 
I wish  I could  convey  to  you  a just  Idea  of  Raphael’s  Painting, 
but  I am  at  a loss  how  to  do  it  unless  I could  recollect  some  one 
Picture  that  I could  refer  you  to;  but  I cannot  think  of  any  one. 
I will  refer  you  than  [to]  the  Coppy  at  Smibert’s  of  the  Holy 
Family,  which  although  a Coppy  from  Raphael,  is  notwith- 
standing very  diferent  from  his  Painting.  I will  explain  to  you 
in  what  it  differs;  the  Original,  which  is  at  Florance,  I have  seen, 
and  find  it  has  nothing  of  the  olive  tint  you  see  in  the  Copy, 
the  read  not  so  bricky  in  the  faces,  the  whole  Picture  finished 
in  a more  rich  and  correct  manner,  you  remem[ber]  the  hands 
of  the  Virgin  and  of  the  St.  John,  they  are  very  incorrect  in  the 
one  you  have  seen,  but  in  the  original  they  are  correctly 
finished  and  the  whole  Picture  has  the  Softness  and  general 
hew  of  Crayons,  with  a Perlly  tint  throughout,  thus  I have 
indeavoured  to  give  you  such  a discription  of  Raphael’s  works 
as  may  be  useful  to  you ; but  before  I take  leave  of  him  I must 
just  observe  that  by  making  use  of  a Model  for  the  heads  you 
will  naturally  vary  your  faces  agreable  to  your  Models,  and 
though  I would  not  make  the  heads  like  the  model,  that  is,  not 
such  a likeness  as  I would  make  in  a portrait,  yet  should  they  be 
like  to  the  greatest  degree  I should  not  think  it  a matter  to  be 
objected  to.  you  will  take  notice  in  the  Transfiguration  Raphael 
has  painted  warts  on  some  of  the  faces  by  thus  painting  from 
the  life.  Chusing  such  Models  as  are  most  agreable  to  the  sev- 
eral carracters  you  mean  to  paint,  you  will  procure  that 
variety  in  your  Works  that  is  so  much  admired  in  the  first 
Works  of  Art;  as  to  the  expression  you  will  find  it  effected 


1775 


Copley -Pelham  Letters  305 

by  small  deviations  from  tranquility,  it  is  what  I cannot 
discribe,  but  would  wish  you  in  the  persuit  of  it,  to  endeavour 
to  feel  what  you  would  express  and  mark  what  you  feel  in  your 
Picture,  it  is  an  undiscribeable  somthing  for  which  th[e]re  is 
no  rule,  you  will  be  assisted  in  this  by  prints;  tho  they  are  very 
imperfect,  yet  you  will  find  till  you  have  some  thing  better  than 
even  the  Laocoon  you  have  will  furnish  somthing  towards  it. 
And  here  I must  advise  you  to  procure  an  anatomical  figure 
and  lern  the  mussels,  so  that  you  would  be  able  to  draw  a toler- 
able figure  with  all  the  museles  from  your  Knowledge  of  the 
parts.1  But  I must  leave  this  Digression  and  Raphael:  and 
proceed  to  Titiano,  whose  excellencys  are  very  great  at  the 
same  time  of  a different  kind  from  those  of  Raphael. 

I immagine  by  reflecting  on  the  Ideas  I had  imbibed  from  the 
Discription  of  writers  before  I had  seen  any  of  Titianos  Works, 
that  you  may  be  utterly  unacquainted  with  his  manner  of 
Painting,  taking  it  for  granted  that  my  Ideas  and  yours  being 
grounded  on  the  same  information  must  be  nearly  the  same, 
those  who  have  wrote  on  the  subject  seem  always  to  suppose 
their  Readers  to  have  the  Works  of  the  Great  Masters  before 
them;  hence  they  are  very  defective  and  convey  little  or  no 
Idea,  at  least  no  just  Idea,  of  their  Works,  my  business  has 
been  to  convey  to  you  such  an  account  of  the  Works  of  Art  as 
will  give  you  the  best  you  can  have  till  you  see  them  with  your 
own  eyes.  I neither  Study  Stile  nor  precision,  nor  have  I time 
to  be  even  correct;  for  my  first  thoughts  as  I set  them  Down 
you  must  have  without  any  alteration,  and  if  you  meet  fre- 
quent repetitions  it  is  because  I have  omitted  somthing  I wish 

1 The  Department  of  Prints  and  Drawings  of  the  British  Museum  has  an 
early  sketch-book  by  Copley  containing  nine  anatomical  studies,  in  black  and 
red  crayons,  signed  and  dated  1756.  They  are  done  with  great  care  and  the 
muscles  are  named. 


3°6 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1 77  5 


to  convey  to  you,  being  much  more  solicitious  to  inform  your 
Mind  than  write  an  Eligant  treatise  on  the  Art.  at  the  same  time 
it  would  give  me  much  pleasure  to  form  somthing  correct  and 
Eligant  from  these  lose  though[t]s,  unconnected,  though  I 
think  not  undegested.  for  my  great  Affection  for  You  and 
Solicitude  on  that  Account  has  made  me  very  carefull  not  to 
mislead  you  in  any  thing;  and  if  I have  not  always  been  so 
Clear  or  explicit  as  was  necessary  let  me  know  it  and  in  what 
you  wish  to  be  informed,  and  I shall  take  a pleasure  in  gratifi- 
ing  you.  But  to  return. 

Before  I saw  the  Works  of  Titiano,  I [s]uposed  them  Painted 
in  a Body  of  Oyl  Colours  with  great  precision,  smooth,  Glossy 
and  Delicate,  somthing  like  Enamil  wrought  up  with  care  and 
great  attention  to  the  smallest  parts,  with  a rich  brilliantcy 
that  would  astonish  at  first  sight,  but  I found  them  otherwise, 
the  writers  of  his  Life  tell  you  he  had  three  manners,  his  first 
being  indiferant  I shall  take  no  notice  of  it,  but  remark  on  his 
second  and  third  as  they  are  boath  very  good.  I shall  begin 
with  his  second  in  order.  He  seems  to  me  to  have  had  his 
Cloath  first  Passed  over  (with  Whiting,  White  Lead,  or  Plaster 
of  Paris,  mixed  with  sise)  with  a Brush,  and  no  other  prepara- 
tion or  Priming;  perhaps  not  even  pumissed:  only  the  Cloath 
pretty  even  thread [ed]  and  fine,  this  done  he  painted  his 
Picture  with  a broad  light  and  very  little  shadow,  so  that  I 
think  they  somtimes  Want  foarce.  his  lights  are  Scarcely  pre- 
dominant and  where  ever  you  see  shade,  it  is  only  a little  below 
the  general  tint,  so  that  you  see  it  flesh  throughout  the  light 
and  shade  is  what  you  see  in  thee  Street,  nothing  black  or 
heavy  in  the  shade,  nothing  White  or  stairing  in  the  lights,  the 
flesh  of  a full  tint  rather  rather  brown  or  Read  than  Pale  or 
Cold,  at  the  same  time  his  Pictures  are  generally  rather  Grave, 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


3°7 


I775 


Dark,  and  Warm  than  faint  or  Chalkey.  with  respect  to  light 
and  shade  you  see  the  Prints  of  his  Venus  and  Danea.  they  have 
little  shade,  the  Danea  has  the  most,  over  her  face  it  is  very 
warm  and  transparent,  and  all  flesh,  his  tints  very  Clear  and 
Perlly  but  never  muddy  or  Gray.  I can  refer  you  no  where  for 
an  example,  but  recollect  you  have  been  at  Philadelphia  and 
you  have  no  doubt  seen  Mr.  West’s  Coppy.  tho  that  will  give 
you  the  best  Idea  of  it,  yet  I beleave  was  you  to  see  them 
together  you  would  think  the  Coppy  less  broken  and  varigated 
in  the  tints  of  Flesh  than  the  original.  I think  it  has  more  of  the 
look  of  Putty  or  leather,  and  I am  inclined  to  think  Plain  oyl 
Colours  will  not  produce  the  effect  of  Titianos  Colouring, 
there  is  somthing  too  Dauby  in  it.  as  soon  as  I can  spare  a few 
Days  I shall  try  an  experiment  or  two.  I will  tell  you  what  I 
propose;  first  to  prepare  my  Cloath  as  above,  than  Dead 
Colour  my  Picture,  the  Ground  will  imbibe  the  Oyl.  When  it  is 
Dry  Pass  over  it  with  some  Gum  Mastick  Dissolved  in  Tur- 
pentine, which  I shall  let  Dry,  than  finish  my  Picture  with 
Glasing  boath  in  the  lights  and  shades.  The  Gum  is  to  prevent 
the  Dead  Colour  imbibeing  the  Oyle,  so  it  will  appear  through 
the  last  Glasings  with  great  Brilliancy,  another  method  I shall 
try  is  to  lay  in  the  t>e ad  Colours  with  Turpintine  and  than 
apply  the  Gum  before  the  finishing:  which  should  be  by  Glas- 
ings only,  but  when  I have  made  the  experiment  I shall  let  you 
know  its  success.  Titiano  is  no  ways  minute,  but  sacrifices  all 
the  small  parts  to  the  General  effect,  his  hands  and  feet  are 
hardly  made  out  till  you  see  them  at  a Distance. 

But  I must  here  break  off  as  I am  ingaged  to  Drink  Tea  with 
Mr.  Izard  and  he  setts  out  earley  in  the  morn’g.  I wish  every 
blessing  to  attend  you,  and  be  assured  nothing  that  can  con- 
trabute  to  your  happyness  that  shall  be  in  my  power,  but  you 


3°8 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


i77S 


may  be  assured  of  My  Affectionate  Love  and  Duty,  give  my 
Dear  Mother  and  acc[e]pt  my  tenderest  Love  yourself,  Giveing 
Love  and  compliments  to  all  friends  and  take  care  of  your 
health,  let  nothing  Depress  your  Spirits  and  Beleave  me  most 
Affectionately  Disposed  to  do  everything  for  your  happyness 
as  for  my  own.  I am,  Dear  Brother,  Yours  Most  Affectionately, 

John  Singleton  Copley. 

Mr.  Izard[’s]  Portrait  will  be  a very  fine  one. 

Rome,  14.  of  March,  1775. 

Charles  Reak  and  Samuel  Okey  to  Henry  Pelham 

Newport,  March  16,  1775. 
S’r, 

Yours  by  Mr.  Tyler  came  to  hand  last  Night  and  I take  the 
early  opertunaty  of  the  next  Morning  to  answer  your  Obliging 
and  Polite  Letter  and  aquaint  you  that  I receiv’d  yours  with 
great  Pleasure  as  it  may  posibly  bring  on  A Connection  of 
Business  both  Beneficial  and  in  some  measure  a little  improv- 
ing these  parts  of  the  Polite  Arts  in  this  New  World,  wee  shall 
publish  in  About  a Month  a Poster  sized  Plate  of  Mr.  Sam 
Addams  from  A Picture  I had  of  Mr.  Mitchels  Painting,  wee 
have  copied  it  well  enouf  and  are  not  affraid  of  the  Sucsess  of 
it;  but  A plate  done  Properly  shoud  be  from  A good  Picture. 
It  was  the  best  I cou’d  get  when  last  in  Boston  and  I don’t  on 
any  Account  mean  to  disparage  that  Young  Gent’n,  or  wish 
that  this  may  go  any  farther  than  to  you.  I have  A Letter  now 
on  my  Desk  Just  Receiv’d  from  him  wherein  he  kindly  tels  mee 
his  Portrait  of  Mr.  Hancock  is  at  my  service.  And  now  for 
that  Matter,  the  Moment  wee  have  done  Mr.  Addams,  Do’r 
Coopers  from  Mr.  Copely  will  be  in  hand,  when  that  is  done, 


1775 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


309 


as  it  will  be  in  about  Two  Months,  and  I am  shure  it  will  be 
much  superior  to  Addams,  Intirely  owing  to  the  superioraty  of 
Mr.  Copelys  Pencil.  If  Mr.  Hancock  woud  be  so  obliging  on 
your  aplycation  as  to  let  us  have  his  faviorate  Picture,  it  shall 
be  taken  the  greatest  Care  of  Imaginable,  and  restored  in  just 
the  same  state  as  Receiv’d,  and  shou’d  be  put  in  a Case  and 
delivered  to  the  Care  of  Mr.  Peter  Mumford  our  Post,  wee 
have  many  subjects  that  Offer,  but  none  that  wee  shoud  wish 
to  do  sooner  than  that  as  it  will  be  a proper  Companion  for  Mr. 
Addams ; and  as  in  his  wee  have  been  Obliged  cheafly  to  consult 
Profit,  so  from  the  fine  Picture  of  Mr.  Hancock  that  I have  already 
had  the  Pleasure  to  see  wee  shal  consult  Honour.  Mr.  Mumford 
informs  mee  he  will  get  that  Picture,  but  I shoud  be  happy  in 
owing  that  Obligation  to  Mr.  Pelham’s  Friendship.  Do’r  Win- 
throp  as  a gent’n  of  that  distinguishing  Merrit  you  represent 
might  be  a proper  subject,  and  particularly]  as  A Companion 
to  the  Ingenious  and  Learned  Dr.  Franklin.  I remember  the 
size  of  the  Plate  as  I may  well  do,  as  laying  the  Ground  on  it  in 
London  for  that  scraped  by  Fisher.1  I think  it  sold  for  five 
Shillings  Ster’g  . Que[ry]  whether  these  high  Priced  Prints  may 
be  agreable  to  the  Generality,  only  shoud  be  glad  if  youd  Con- 
sult a few  of  Do’r  Winthrop  Friends  and  let  mee  have  there 
and  your  Opinion  how  many  Impresions  wee  may  probably 
expect  to  sell,  at  the  first  set  of  the  drawing  I dare  say  will  do 
very  w’ell  to  execute  from.  I must  stop  Short  as  the  Post  is  this 
Minute  setting  out,  so  no  further  at  Present  but  to  beg  you’l 
accept  our  best  respects,  and  that  you  will  add  to  the  favior 
of  your  last  by  writing  to  us  again  by  the  first  opertunaty, 
which  will  greatly  Oblige  your  Most  hum’e  Serts. 

Chas  Reak  and  Sam  Okey. 

1 Edward  Fisher  (1730-1785?). 


310  Copley -Pelham  Letters  1775 


Sir,  the  Post  went  without  this  at  last,  so  it  retards  this 
another  Week,  if  Do.  Winthrop  woud  take  the  Value  of 
Quarter  of  a Hundred  for  the  Use  of  his  Friends;  but  in  In- 
terim should  be  glad  of  Mr  Hancocks  Portrait. 

C.  R. 

Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 

Boston,  April  3d,  1775. 

My  Dear  Brother, 

Just  meeting  an  Opertunity  I cant  omitt  writing  a few  lines 
just  to  let  you  know  that  We  are,  thank  God,  in  pretty  good 
health.  As  my  time  is  short  and  this  will  have  a very  circuitous 
Passage  before  it  getts  to  Rome,  I shall  not  be  able  to  write 
you  so  long  a letter  as  you  might  perhaps  expect,  or  I could 
Wish,  To  assure  you  we  have  been  for  this  long  time  past 
anxiously  solicitous  of  Receiving  a line  from  you.  it  seems,  and 
indeed  it  is,  almost  an  age  sinc[e]  we  heard  from  you.  the  last 
intelligence  was  your  letter  to  Our  hon’d  Mamma  of  the  5 of 
Nov’r.  Indeed  we  console  ourselves  that  there  has  been  no 
opertunity  except  by  the  Pacquet,  and  I now  beg  that  you 
would  direct  you[r]  Correspondent  in  England  to  forward  your 
Letters  by  the  very  first  Opertunitys,  weither  the  packet  or 
otherwise,  as  we  shall  not  at  all  value  a few  Shillings  when  it 
procures  us  the  Happyness  of  a Letter  from  you.  I am  pleased 
when  I can  inform  you  that  our  hon’d  Mamma,  my  dear  Sister, 
and  my  dear  little  Cousins  are  well.  My  Mamma  has  had  a 
very  tolerable  Winter.  She  desires  me  to  present  you  with  her 
kindest  Love  and  Blessing  and  thanks  for  your  letter  to  her. 
She  would  have  wrote  you  a few  lines,  but  as  I thought  it  would 
worry  her  I diswaded  her  from  it.  so  you  must  place  the  Omis- 
sion to  my  acc’t,  and  I am  assured  of  your  excuse  know  ing  your 
willingness  to  forego  any  pleasure  reather  than  give  her  trouble. 


I77S 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


3 1 1 


Little  did  I think  a month  go  that  my  next  Letter  would  carry 
such  unwelcome  news  as  I have  now  to  Communicate,  but 
alas!  how  precarious  are  all  sublunary  injoyments,  how  uncer- 
tain is  human  Life ! with  malencholy  Regret  I inform  you  that 
our  very  worthy  Friends,  the  once  amiable  and  engaging  Mrs. 
Oliver,1  Our  onc[e]  gay  facetious  and  respectable  Nei[gh]bour 
Mr.  Chardon  and  Mr.  Winslow,  very  late  the  man  of  Buis- 
ness,  are  now  no  more.  Death  regardless  of  Worth  and  Virtue, 
Youth  and  Gayety,  with  ruthless  hand  snaps  the  slender 
Th[r]ead  of  Life  and  Leavs  the  tender  husband,  the  amiable 
and  affectionate  Wife,  the  Dutifull  and  the  infant  Children,  to 
mou[r]n  the[i]r  fri[e]nds  departure,  and  to  feel  the  loss  of  there 
indearing  Offices  of  Benevolence  and  Love,  which  with  the 
hopes  of  a Happy  immortallity  smooth  the  rugged  Path  of  Life 
and  render  more  than  tolerable  that  journey  so  thickly  strowed 
with  disapointment  and  Vexations.  Let  it  be  the  consolation 
of  our  sorrows  to  Remember  and  Imitate  their  Virtues.  Let 
us  improve  this  Righteous  providenc[e]  of  God  in  th[e]ir  Re- 
moval to  our  profit,  let  it  imprint  on  our  minds  the  uncer- 
tanty  of  this  world’s  best  injoyments.  Convinced  that  this  is 
but  a passage  to  Eternity,  let  us  be  with  the  hope  and  fortitude 
of  Christians  always  prepared  to  meet  that  stroke  however 
sudden  which  shall  reunite  Us  to  our  departed  Fr[i]ends,  with 
them  to  enjoy  the  Endless  Rewards  of  a Virtuous  and  good 
Life.  A few  perticulars  of  our  Fri[e]nds’  dec[e]ase  you  will 
doubtless  expect.  Judge  Olivers  Lady  was  seised  with  a Fit  of 
the  Palsey  on  the  17  of  March.  She  continued  sinking  away  till 
the  25th,  when  she  died  and  was  buried  the  30  from  My  Sister’s 
with  all  the  Respect  due  to  her  Rank  and  amiable  Virtues.  Mr 
Chardon  was  taken  not  a month  ago  with  a Mortification  in  his 
1 Mary,  daughter  of  William  Clarke. 


3 1 2 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1 775 


Bowels,  of  which  he  languish’d  4 Days.  Mr.  Joshua  Winslow, 
Commodore  Loring’s  Son-in-Law  was  abroad  the  16  of  Last 
Month,  and  on  the  23d  was  an  inhabitant  of  the  silent  Tomb.1 

My  Brother  Pelham  is  now  confined  with  a very  severe  fitt  of 
the  Gout  with  which  he  has  been  for  some  time  past  afflicted. 
My  Sister  Pelham  I am  fearfull  is  in  a declineing  Way.  Your 
Enquiries  after  Snap  he  takes  Very  kind.  He  de[s]ires  his  duty 
to  you.  I with  pleasure  inform  you  that  he  had  been  ever 
sincfe]  you  left  us  a very  good  Boy. 

You  doubtless  expect  I should  write  you  the  present  State  of 
the  political  Contest,  but  this  I must  omitt  for  want  of  time 
and  Room  till  my  next,  assuring  you  in  the  mean  time  that  our 
Fr[i]ends  here  live  very  quietly,  and  therfe]  is  but  little  danger 
I think  of  their  not  continuing  so  to  do,  let  the  dispute  be  as  it 
will,  in  Boston  we  are  too  strong  to  meet  with  the  lea[s]t  dis- 
turbance. I am  happy  to  inform  you  that  I am  very  fully  im- 
ployed,  but  People  are  very  backwa[r]d  in  paying,  there  being 
now  no  law  to  Obligje]  them  to  it.  It  would  be  too  great  a 
Tax  upon  you  to  enumerate  all  the  Fr[i]ends  who  desire  there 
Compliments  to  you,  But  I cant  excuse  myself  from  mention’g 
My  Hon’d  Mamma,  Sister  C,  Brother  and  S.  P.,  Judge  O. 
Mr.  Clar[k]e,  Isaac,  Miss  Lucy,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bromfield  and 
my  amiabl[e]  young  fr[i]ends  with  them,  as  repeatedly  desireing 
to  have  their  k[i]nd  love  and  Regards  presented  to  you.  I am 
proud  of  uniteing  myself  with  so  respectable  a list  of  Friends  in 
sincere[s]t  good  Wishes  and  Prayers  for  your  Health  and 
Happyness.  I subscribe  myself  your  very  affectionate  Brother 
and  Humble  Servant, 

H.  P. 

1 A merchant  of  Boston,  who  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Nathaniel 
Loring.  See  Massachusetts  Gazette , March  23,  1775. 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


3 1 3 


1775 


Joshua  Wentworth  to  Henry  Pelham 

Portsmo.,  April  7th,  1775. 

Sir, 

Your  favor  of  14th  March  I rec’d  5th  Inst,  per  post.  Observe 
Mr.  Copely’s  Bill  for  Mrs.  Wentworth’s  portrait  which,  if  corn- 
pleat,  shou’d  with  great  pleasure  discharge  the  demand,  and 
as  ready  pay  a like  sum  for  mine.  Mr.  Copely,  on  my  deter- 
mination, of  hav’g  those  portraits  taken,  Engag’d  with  me  no 
other’s  shou’d  impeed  the  excecution  of  them.  After  Mrs 
Wentworth  had  set  many  days,  and  myself  one,  he  agreed  and 
finish’d  a Portrait  for  a Mrs  Babcock,  wch  exceedingly  disa- 
pointed  my  Intentions,  and  my  business  cal’g  me  hither,  was 
oblig’d  to  leave  Boston,  without  a finish  of  either  Portrait. 

I cannot  determine  when  Mrs  Wentworth  will  [be]  in  Boston; 
her  present  Curcumstances  will  not  admit  her  Visit’g  it  for 
some  months. 

I purpose  to  ride  thither  in  May,  if  the  hurry  of  Govement  at 
home  does  not  oblige  the  Inhabitants  to  abandon  their  Houses 
for  a more  agreeable  retreat,  from  the  Clamours  of  War. 

I shall  wait  on  you  when  I go  to  Boston,  in  the  Interim  am, 
Sir,  Your  mt.  obt.  Sefvt. 

Josh.  Wentworth.1 

Henry  Pelham  to  Charles  Startin 

Boston,  May  3d,  1775. 

Dear  Sir, 

My  Fr[i]end  Mr  Nichols  with  his  Family  returning  to 
Philadelphia]  Induces  me  to  trouble  you  with  a Line,  the 

1 Joshua  (1742-1809),  son  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  Wentworth,  merchant, 
married  Sally  Peirce. 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


3*4 


1775 


Principle  Purport  of  which  is  to  request  you  to  add  to  the  many 
obligations  I am  already  under  by  favouring  me  with  Letters 
to  some  of  your  Friends  in  England.  I feel  a Regrett  in  being 
so  troublesome,  but  know’g  your  willingness  to  Oblige  I flatter 
myself  I shall  obtain  you[r]  Pardon. 

The  very  Malencholly  Event  which  has  lately  happend  here 
forces  me  with  the  multitude  to  abandon  my  Nativje]  Land, 
and  seek  that  bread  at  a Distance],  which  by  the  Vicicetudes 
of  Fortune  I am  denied  at  Home.  Mrs.  Copley  with  the  chil- 
dren I expect  will  sail  in  one  of  the  first  Vessels  for  London, 
Where  I purpose  following  in  a few  Weeks,  and  where  I flatter 
myself  it  will  not  be  long  before  I have  the  pleasure  of  see’g  you 
and  Mrs.  Startin.1 

I must  Refer  you  to  Mr.  Nichols  for  the  Perticulars  of  the 
situation  of  this  distressed]  Town.  It  is  impossable  for  me  to 
describe  the  unhappy  tran[s] actions  of  that  fatal  day  and  the 
consequent  Misery  to  which  it  has  reduced  [the]  Inhabitants 
[of]  this  once  flourishing  and  happy  Town.  Consternation  is 
pictured  in  every  face,  every  Cheek  grows  Pale,  every  lip 
trembles  at  the  Recital  of  the  Horrid  tale.2 

Our  very  amiable  Frie[n]d  Miss  Sally  Bromfield  and  my  self 
had  a very  providential  Escape  from  being  in  the  midst  of  the 
Battle.  When  I found[?]  that  there  was  a disturbance  in  the 
Country  I took  a Horse  and  Chaise  determined  to  go  to  My 
Brothers  at  Newton  and  perswade  them  to  come  to  Boston  as  a 

1 Erased:  “Mr  Copley  in  some  of  his  late  Letters  desires  his  Love  and  best 
Wishes  might  be  perticularly  present’d  to  his  Philadelphia  Friends.  I beg  to  unite 
with  him  in  proper  Regards  to  yourself  and  Mrs.  Startin  and  I Conclude  with 
Wishing  you  all  Health  and  Peace.  I am,  Dear  Sir,  your  much  Obliged  and  most 
Humble  Sert. 

“Henry  Pelham.” 

2 The  affair  of  Lexington  and  Concord. 


1775 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


315 


place  of  Safety.  I went  to  the  ferry,  where  I was  refused  a 
passage,  under  pretence  of  the  Winds  being  too  high,  tho  a 
Chaisje]  went  over  in  the  very  boat  beforje].  anxious  for  my 
Frie[n]ds  (as  the  Country  was  then  in  the  utmost  Confusion) 
I thought  this  a great  Disapo[i]ntment,  and  was  very  angry 
with  the  Ferrymen,  as  I lost  an  hour,  being  obliged  to  go  ove[r] 
the  neck.  This  I so  perticularly  mention  as  it  tu[r]nd  out  a very 
lucky  Circumstanc[e].  Find’g  my  Brother  unable  to  move, 
being  confind  with  the  gout,  I directly  tumd  my  attention  to 
Miss  Bromfield  who  was  at  Cambridg[e],  where  I immed[iat]ely 
went  and  took  her  into  my  Chaise.  I went  to  Cambrid[g]e 
B[r]idg[e]  and  fou[n]d  it  taken  up.  deterrd  by  former  unsuccess 
from  attempting  the  ferry  I went  by  the  way  of  Water  Town 
Bridge  and  safely  reach’d  Home.  Mr.  Harry  Bromfield  went 
the  same  afternoon  to  Cambridge  to  fetch  his  Sister  Down, 
finding  her  just  gone  with  me,  he  returned  to  the  Ferry,  when  he 
fou[n]d  the  boats  stopped  by  Order  of  the  General,  the  Armies 
fast  approach’g  to  Charl[e]stown,  and  that  being  a very  unsafe 
place  he  but  just  escaped  over  Charlestow[n]  Neck  before  the 
retreat’g  Army  enter’d  it.  He  has  Rem[aine]d  13  days  in  the 
Country  unable  to  see  his  Frie[n]ds,  or  they  him  till  to  day, 
when  he  obtain’d  a Pass  from  the  Gen’l  and  retu[r]nd  home. 
This  I take  a pleasure  in  Relating  as  a[m]ids[t]  the  Horrors  of 
that  of  that  dreadfull  Day,  I feel  myself  exceed’g  happy  in 
rescue’g  my  lov[e]ly  Frie[n]d  from  such  a Scene  of  Distress  and 
Danger,  and  have  from  the  fortunate  Disapo[i]ntment  at  the 
Ferry  lear[n]t  much  usefull  Philosophy,  not  to  make  myself 
uneasy  at  what  I cant  avoid,  and  in  all  the  gloomy  Prospects 
of  Life  to  think  with  Pope,  Whatever  is,  is  right. 

I am  just  begining  a Minature  Port[r]ait  of  Mr.  Clarke  which 
I shall  send  by  the  first  Opertunity  to  Mrs.  Startin. 


316 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


'll  5 


I conclude  with  sincer[e]ly  Wish’g  that  Health  and  Peace 
may  ever  attend  you  and  Mr[s]  Startin. 

I am,  Dear  Sir,  your  much  obliged  and  Very  Hm  St. 

[Unsigned. \ 


Henry  Pelham  to  Copley1 

[May  — , 1775.] 

The  People  in  the  Country  have  made  it  a Rule  for  a long 
time  Past  to  brand  every  one  with  the  Name  of  Tory  and  con- 
sider them  as  Inimical  to  the  Liberties  of  America  who  are  not 
will’g  to  go  every  length  with  them  in  their  Scheems  however 
mad  or  who  show  the  least  doubt  of  the  justice  and  Humanity 
of  all  their  measures,  or  even  entertain  an  Idea  that  they  may 
not  produce  those  salutary  effects  they  profess  to  have  in  View. 

This  conduct  has  rendered  My  Brother  P very  uneasy. 

they  have  long  looked  askew  at  him;  his  being  a Churchman  is 
considered  as  a suspicious  Circumstancje].  in  short  he  has  for 
some  time  meditated  a Retreat  from  his  present  place  of  abode 
and  has  depended  upon  me  for  Intellegencje]  of  any  movement  in 
this  town  which  might  effect  a threatned  attack  upon  the  tories. 

My  Sister  Copley  and  myself  proposed  going  to  Newton  the 
very  day  of  the  battle  but  in  the  Morn’g  finding  a disturbance 
in  the  Country  we  alterd  our  plan  and  with  your  horse  and 
Chaise  I went  alone  to  alarm  my  Brother  and  perswade  him 
and  my  Sister  to  come  to  town  as  a place  of  safety.  I went  to 
the  ferry.  The  ferrymen  refused  to  carry  me  over,  the  Wind 
being  high  tho  there  was  then  a Chais[e]  passing  over.  This  I 
consider’d  as  a great  disapo[i]ntment  and  scolded  at  the  Ferry- 
men who  I thot  acting  out  of  their  line  of  Duty.  I here  lost  an 

1 Possibly  another  draft  or  a part  of  the  letter  on  p.  322,  infra. 


*775 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


317 


hour,  being  obliged  to  Return  thro  the  town  and  go  over  the 
Neck.  This  in  the  sequel  will  appear  a very  fortunate  Circum- 
stance, as  it  detered  [me]  from  attempting  to  return  the  same 
way.  I found  my  brother  unable  to  move  being  confined  with 
the  Gout.  Anxious  for  my  Fri[e]nds,  as  the  Country  was  now 
in  the  utmost  Confusion,  my  attention  was  drawn  to  our 
Amiable  Fri[e]nd  Miss  Sally  Bromfield,  who  was  then  at  Cam- 
bridge. I went  and  took  her  into  my  Chaise.  The  people  hav’g 
taken  up  Cambridge  Bridge  to  stop  the  Troops  in  their  Retreat, 
and  fear’g  another  disapo’ntment  at  Charlestown,  I thot  it 
most  prudent  to  Return  home  by  the  Way  of  Watertown,  tho 
it  was  13  Miles,  which  I happyly  effected  by  Sunsett,  after 
hav’g  Rid  post  a Circuit  of  30  Miles.  Had  we  Returnd  thro 
Charleston  we  should  have  been  in  the  midst  of  the  Battle  and 
have  remain’d  a fortnight  involuntary  exiles  from  our  Fri[e]nds 
who  as  it  was  were  very  uneasy  for  us.  This  is  evident,  Mr 
Harry  B.  having  gone  the  same  afternoon  to  fetch  his  Sister 
down  but  finding  she  had  ju[s]t  left  her  Uncles  with  me  hastned 
immediatly  back  to  the  Ferry  where  he  found  the  boats  stopp’d 
by  Order  of  the  Gen’l.  The  Armies  fast  approach’g  and  that 
being  a very  unsafe  place  he  had  but  just  time  to  escape  over 
Charleston  Neck  before  the  retreat’g  army  entered  it.  He 
was  forced  to  Rem[a]in  13  days  in  the  Country  unable  to  see  his 
Fr[i]ends  before  he  could  obtain  a pass  to  Return  home,  amidst 
the  Horrors  of  that  fatal  Day,  I feel  myself  peculiarly  happy  in 
being  instrumental  in  rescuing  my  very  lovely  Fri[e]nd  from 
such  a Scene  of  Distress  and  Danger.  The  other  Circumstance 
was  this:  finding  I should  have  no  busness  here,  my  self  and 
frie[n]ds  thought  it  advisable  for  me  to  go  to  Philada.  I had 
agreed  for  my  Passage  and  was  pack’g  up  my  things  expecting 
to  sail  the  next  Mon’g,  when  in  the  Night  the  Capt.  fear’g  some 


3 1 8 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1775 


detention  went  off  and  left  all  his  Passengers  behind.  This  has 
turn’d  out  very  lucky,  as  advices  have  just  arrived  that  New- 
york  and  Philad.  are  in  almost  as  much  trouble  and  Confusion 
as  we  are  and  there  is  an  armed  force  going  there.  This  with 
the  other  disapointm’t  at  Charlestow[n]  Ferry  have  fully  taught 

me  that  present  disapointment 

[You]  will  doubtless  be  surprised  to  find  this  transmitted  to 
London  by  my  dear  Sister,  who  sails  in  Capt.  Callahan1  to- 
morrow with  her  little  Family,  the  perticulars  she  will  give  you. 
the  times  are  such  as  must  preclude  all  thots  of  your  return’g. 

Henry  Pelham  to  John  Singleton 

Boston,  May  16,  1775. 

Dear  and  Hon’d  Uncle, 

To  give  you  a short  account  of  the  situation  of  your  Friends 
here,  and  to  remove  from  your  minds  and  that  of  my  other 
dear  Relations  in  your  part  of  the  World,  Aprenhensions  which 
must  arrise  for  our  safety  in  this  time  of  Distress  and  difficulty, 
is  the  motive  for  my  addressing  you  now.  It  will  be  needless 
for  me  to  give  a detail  of  the  Causes  leading  to  the  unhappy 
event,  which  has  recently  thrown  us  into  the  greatest  Confu- 
sion, and  has  involved  this  Country  in  all  the  Horrors  of  a Civil 
War.  You  must  be  fully  acquainted  with  [the]  Contest  which 
for  some  year[s]  past  has  subsisted  between  this  Continent  and 
Great  Britain.  I shall  therefore  pass  it  without  any  Remark, 
saving  that  it  has  been  productive  of  mutual  je[a]lo[u]sy  and 

1 Erased:  “tomorrow  or  next.  In  a few  days.”  Callahan,  captain  of  the 
Minerva,  did  not  sail  until  May  27,  and  then  went  from  Marblehead.  On 
April  27,  the  British  general  had  given  leave  for  all  persons  who  should  choose 
to  do  so  to  leave  Boston  with  their  effects,  and  large  numbers  seized  the  oppor- 
tunity. A year  earlier,  June  i,  1774,  Governor  Hutchinson  had  left  America  in 
the  same  vessel,  then  also  commanded  by  Callahan. 


1775 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


3 x9 


mistrust,  unnatural  heartbum’g,  hatred  and  Malice,  among 
those  whose  Duty  and  interest  it  was  to  dwell  together  in 
Peace,  mutually  love’g  and  Cherishing  each  other.  A Conduct 
which  would  be  infinitely  more  agreable  to  the  design  of 
Providenc[e]  in  forming  us  Social  Beings,  and  mak’g  us  depend- 
ant on  those  around  us  more  consonant  to  the  dictates  of  that 
boasted  Reason  which  so  eminently  destinguishes  Man  from 
all  the  other  Works  of  Creation,  and  unquestionably  more 
agreable  to  the  express  Commands  of  that  Prince  of  Peace, 
whose  Holy  Religion  we  all  profess  to  make  the  Rule  of  our 
Lives  and  Conduct.  But  alas!  The  last  ten  years  is  but  an 
additional  Confirmation  of  that  Mallencholly  truth  taught  us 
by  the  experience]  of  ages  that  neither  the  light  of  Natural 
Religion,  the  dictates  of  Reason,  the  positive  Commands  of 
Christianity,  nor  even  a Regard  to  present  Happyness  are 
effectual  to  curb  the  licentious  Ambition,  the  Pride  and  Averice 
of  Man,  or  smoth  those  aspiraties  of  the  Mind  which  too  fre- 
quently break  the  ties  of  benevolence  and  Virtue,  and  render 
Man  his  own  greatest  Enemy.  Whatever  disagrement  there 
may  be  respecting  a parlimentary  Right  to  tax  us,  or  about 
American  opposition,  .we  must  all  agree  in  this  that  a Civill 
War  is  the  most  dreadfull  Evill  that  can  befall  a People,  as  it  is 
subversive  of  that  friendly  intercourse  that  can  so  greatly 
heighten  our  Joys,  gives  such  a cha[r]m  to  our  innocent  pleas- 
ures], and  aleviates  the  Sorrows  of  Life. 

Among  other  preperations  of  defence  which  the  People  of 
this  province]  have  for  some  months  past  been  very  industri- 
ously making  they  had  formed  some  Magazines  of  Provisions 
and  Milatary  Stores,  one  perticula[r]ly  at  Concord  18  Miles 
from  Boston.  The  Granodiers  and  light  Infantry  Companies 
belonging  to  the  Kings  Troop  in  this  town,  making  about  600 


32° 


Copley  -Pelham  Letters 


1 775 


Men,  were  ordered  to  destroy  this  Magazine  (they  began  their 
March  from  town  about  12  o Clock  in  the  night  of  the  18  of 
April),  which  after  a small  Skirmish  they  effected.  By  day- 
break there  was  a very  general  Rising  in  the  Country,  all  were 
in  motion,  alarm  Guns  having  been  fired  and  expresses  sent  to 
every  town.  About  10  o Clock  the  19  of  April  Gen’l  G[age], 
having  rec’d  advice  that  the  troops  were  attack’d  as  they  were 
going  to  Concord,  ordered  out  a Reinforcement  of  4 Regiments 
under  the  command  of  Ljord]  P[ercy],  with  2 field  Peices,  the 
whole  with  the  first  party  Makeing  1800  Men.  This  reinforce- 
ment joined  the  others  just  time  eno  to  prevent  their  being 
entirely  cut  to  peices,  they  having  nearly  expended  all  their 
amunition.  By  this  time  a great  Number  of  People  were 
assembled  fully  equipp’d,  who  lined  the  Woods  and  Houses 
along  the  Road  thro  which  the  troops  mu[s]t  pass  in  returning 
to  Boston.  A general  Battle  ensued,  whi[c]h  was  supported  by 
an  almost  incessant  fire  on  both  sides  for  7 Hours,  when  the 
troops  made  good  their  retreat  with  the  loss  of  57  Killed,  above 
100  Wounded,  amongst  whom  were  two  Off[i]cers  who  have 
since  died  and  severall  Missing.  It  is  impossable  to  ascertain 
the  loss  on  the  part  of  the  Country  People,  they  acknowledge 
the  loss  of  40  Killed  on  the  spot,  but  this  I apprehend  must  fall 
vastly  short  of  the  true  number.  A Fr[i]end  of  mine  says  he  saw 
between  70  and  80,  and  the  Gentlemen  who  were  spectators  of 
the  Scene  universally  agree  that  there  could  not  be  less  than 
150  or  200.  they  lost  three  of  their  Captans.  Thus  you  have 
the  most  perticular  account  of  this  unhappy  affair  that  I am 
capable  of  give’g  you.  Words  are  wanting  to  discribe  the  Misery 
this  affair  has  produced  among  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Town. 
Thousands  are  reduced  to  absolute  Poverty  who  before  lived 
in  Credit.  Buisness  of  any  kind  is  entirely  Stop’d.  The  Town 


1775 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


321 


invested  by  8000  or  10,000  Men,  who  prevent  all  supplies  of 
fresh  Provision  from  coming  in,  so  that  we  are  now  reduced  to 
have  recource  to  the  stores  which  those  of  us  who  were  provi- 
dent foreseeing  a political  Storm  had  lain  in.  We  find  it  dis- 
agreable  living  entirely  upon  salt  Meat,  it  is  especially  so  to 
my  honord  Mother,  whose  ill  state  of  Health  renders  her  less 
able  to  bear  it.  My  Brother  Jack  has  been  near  a year  past 
making  the  Tour  of  France  and  Italy.  My  Sister  Copley  is 
just  embarking  with  her  little  Family  for  London,  where  she 
expects  soon  to  meet  him.  She  is  the  bearer  of  this  to  England. 
As  for  myself  I dont  know  what  to  say.  this  last  Maneuvour 
has  entierly  stopp’d  all  my  buisness,  and  annialated  all  my 
Property,  the  fruits  of  4 or  5 years  Labor.  I find  it  impossable 
to  collect  any  Monies  that  are  due  to  me,  so  that  I am  forced 
to  find  out  some  other  place  where  I may  at  least  make  a living, 
my  present  purposed  plan  is  to  remove  to  Great  Britain  where  I 
shall  be  able  to  look  about  me,  and  where  I shall  have  an 
Opertunity  of  consulting  my  Friends  respecting  my  future 
pursuits.  Should  I be  able  to  purswade  my  hon’d  Mamma  to 
undertake  this  Voyage,  Which  I sometimes  flatter  myself  I 
shall,  I would  leave  this  place  in  6 or  8 Weeks.  With  her  love 
and  sincer[e]st  affections  I beg  leave  to  tender  you  and  my 
Aunt  Singleton  my  most  dutifull  Respects  and  beg  your  bless- 
ing. Be  kind  eno  to  present  my  duty  to  my  Uncle  and  aunt 
Cooper,  and  Love  to  all  my  Cousins.  I am,  Dear  Sir,  with  the 
sincer[e]st  affection  and  Respect  your  most  dutifull  Nephew, 

H.  P. 

PS.  I should  take  it  as  a great  kindness  if  you  would  favour 
me  with  a line  as  often  as  Conven[ien]t.  Please  to  dir[e]ct  to  the 
Car[e]  of  Mrs.  Copley  in  London,  who  will  forward  them  to  me.1 

1 This  letter  was  sent  to  Anthony  King,  of  Dublin,  Pelham’s  cousin. 


322 


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J775 


Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 

Boston,  May  1 6,  1775. 

My  Dear  Brother, 

Before  you  rec.  this  you  will  doubtless  have  heard  alarming 
Reports  of  a late  most  unhappy  Event  which  has  taken  place 
here.  I have  hitherto  declined  giving  you  any  account  of  the 
State  of  Politicks  since  you  left  us,  thinking  it  a theme  which 
could  afford  you  no  amusement.  I now  reluctantly  find  my 
self  obliged  to  give  you  a detail  of  one  of  the  most  extraordinary 
and  unhappy  transactions  which  can  possably  disgrace  the 
Records  of  Mankind.  Alass!  My  dear  Brother  where  shall  I 
find  Words  sufficiently  expressive  of  the  Distractions  and  Dis- 
tresses of  this  once  flourish’g  and  Happy  People.  The  Disorders 
of  which  we  were  lately  such  anxious  Spectators  have  produced 
those  effects  which  every  dispas[s]ionate  Mind  foresaw,  and 
every  humane  and  feeling  Heart  wished  to  avoid : My  hand 
trembles  while  I inform  you  that  [the]  Sword  of  Civil  War  is  now 
unsheathd.  For  some  months  past  the  People  of  this  Province, 
impelled  by  the  most  surprizing  Enthusi[as]m  which  ever 
seized  the  mind  of  Man,  have  been  industriou[s]ly  making  every 
preperation  for  Carrying  on  a War  and  had  formed  some  con- 
siderable Magazines.  Gen’l  Gage  to  embarrass  them  and 
Retard  their  Plans,  determind  to  break  up  a Magazine  of 
Provision^]  and  Milatary  Stores  they  had  collected  at  Concord, 
18  Miles  from  Town.  To  effect  this  about  600  Men  embarked 
from  the  Bottom  of  the  Common  in  Longboats  and  landed  at 
Phipps  farm  about  1 o Clock  in  the  Morn’g  of  the  19  of  April: 
from  thence  proceeded  to  Concord,  where  they  destroy  a 
quantity  of  Provision,  a Number  of  Harness  and  some  Guns. 
At  10  o Clock,  4 Regiments,  making  with  the  first  Party  1800 


1775 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


323 


Men,  with  2 Field  Pieces,  march’d  as  a Reinforcement  under 
the  Command  of  Lord  Percy.  This  movement  caused  an  uni- 
versal Tumult  thro  the  Country.  Alarm  Guns  were  fired, 
Expresses  sent  to  every  town,  and  in  a few  Hours  a Very  large 
Body  of  People  were  assembled  under  Arms  from  all  Parts, 
who  lined  the  Woods,  Roads,  and  Houses.  A[n]  obstinate  and 
Bloody  Battle  was  the  consequenc[e],  when  an  incessant  fire 
and  general  Battle  ensued  and  an  incessant  fire  was  supported 
on  both  sid[e]s  for  7 Hours,  till  sunsett,  during  which  time  the 
Regulars  made  a Retreat  which  does  Honor  to  the  Bravest  and 
best  Disciplined  troops  that  ever  Europe  Bred.  The  fatigues 
and  conduct  of  this  little  Army,  is  not  to  be  paralleled  in 
History.  They  marchd  that  day  not  less  than  50  Miles,  were 
constantly  under  Arms,  part  of  them  at  least  from  10  o Clock 
at  Night  till  an  hour  after  Sunsett  the  next  Even’g,  the  whole 
of  the  time  without  any  Refreshment,  attack’d  by  an  Enemy 
they  could  not  see,  for  they  skulk’d  behind  trees,  stone  Walls, 
etc.,  and  surround[ed]  by  not  less  than  10000  Men  who  most 
vigirou[s]ly  assaulted  them  with  fresh  Men.  In  short  consider- 
ing the  Circumstances  it  was  almost  a Maricle  that  they  were 
not  entirely  distroy[ed].  When  the  battle  ended  they  had  not 
near  a Charge  a Man.'  The  Kings  troops  had  57  Killed,  above 
106  Wound[ed],  among  them  2 Officers,  who  are  since  dead 
and  several  missing.  The  Rebels  loss  is  not  assertained,  as 
there  has  been  scarce  any  communication  between  town  and 
Country  since.  They  aknowledge  they  had  40  of  their  People 
killed,  but  this  must  fall  Vastly  short  of  the  true  number. 
Doct.  Spring  of  Watertown  says  he  saw  betwe[e]n  70  and  80. 
The  Officers  in  general  agree  they  could  not  loose  less  than  150 
or  200,  among  whom  are  3 of  the[i]r  Captains.  Thus  I give 
You  the  perticulars  of  this  most  shock’g  affair.  I must  now 


324 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1775 


discribe  the  State  of  this  town.  It  is  intirely  invested  by  an 
Army  of  about  8000  Provincials  who  prevent  all  supplys  and 
Communication  from  the  Country.  The  Gen’l  is  fortifying  the 
Town  in  all  Parts,  has  bui[l]t  a Number  of  Battery[s]  at  the 
Neck,  at  the  bottom  of  the  Common,  round  the  beach  to 
Newboston,  on  fox  Hill,  Beacon  Hill,  and  all  along  from  your 
land  entirely  to  Mr.  Wm.  Vassells,  on  Fort  Hill  and  Cops  Hill 
at  Bartons  Point.  So  that  the  threatned  assault  upon  the  town 
now  gives  us  very  little  disturbance.  The  Ge[n]’]  has  entirely 
disarmed  the  Inhabitants  and  has  permitted  Numbers  to  move 
out  with  their  Eff[e]cts.  We  have  been  obliged  to  live  intirely 
upon  salt  provisions  and  what  stores  we  have  in  the  house,  and 
I thi[n]k  we  are  very  fortunate,  foreseeing  a political  Storm  we 
had  been  for  some  time  collecting  provisions  of  all  sorts  and 
have  just  furnish’d  eno  to  last  our  family  6 Months.  Mr 
Clarke  has  done  the  same.  It  is  inconc[e]ivable  the  Distress 
and  Ruin  this  unnatural  dispute  has  caused  to  this  town  and 
its  inhabitants.  Almost  every  shop  and  store  is  shut.  No  buis- 
ness  of  any  kind  going  on.  You  will  here  wish  to  know  how  it  is 
With  me.  I can  only  say  that  I am  with  the  multitude  ren- 
dered very  unhappy;  the  little  I had  collected,  entirely  lost,  the 
Cloaths  upon  my  back  and  a few  Dollers  in  my  pocket  are  now 
the  only  property  which  I have  the  least  Command  of.  What  is 
due  to  me  I cant  get  and  have  now  an  hundred  guineas  worth 
of  business  begun  which  will  never  afford  me  an  hundred 
farthings. 

I cant  but  think  myself  very  unfortunate  thus  to  have  lost  so 
much  of  the  best  part  of  Life,  to  have  my  Business,  upon 
which  my  happyness  greatly  depends,  so  abruptly  cut  short, 
all  my  bright  prospects  anialated,  the  little  Property  I had 
acquired  rendered  useless,  myself  doomed  either  to  stay  at 


1775 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


325 


home  and  starve,  or  leave  my  Country  my  Fri[e]nds,  forced 
to  give  up  those  flattering  expectations  of  domestic  felicity 
which  I once  fon[d]ly  hoped  to  realise:  to  seek  that  Bread 
among  strangers  which  I am  thus  crually  deprived  of  at 
Home. 

This  I long  foresaw  would  be  the  case.  The  expectation  of 
this  distressing  Scene  was  the  cause  of  that  illness  which  sent 
me  to  Philadelphia  last  fall:  When  I think  of  my  present 
Situation,  it  requires  all  my  Philosophy  to  keep  up  my  spirits 
under  this  acumula[te]d  Load  of  uneasiness.  I can’t  help  relat- 
ing two  Circumstances,  which  amidst  all  my  distress  Afford 
me  real  pleasure  and  have  tended  greatly  to  Relieve  my  anxiety, 
and  it  has  fully  taught  me  that  present  disapo[i]ntment  may 
be  productive  of  future  good,  and  that  we  are  indispensably 
obliged  after  we  have  conscientiously  done  what  appears  to  us 
our  Duty  to  leave  the  issue  to  that  Almighty  being,  whose 
Fiat  created  and  whose  Providenc[e]  Govem[s]  the  World:  and 
weither  Adversity  depress  or  Prosperity  chear  us,  we  are  equally 
bound  humbly  to  adore  his  Wisdom  and  patiently  submitt  to 
his  all  righteous  Dispensations.  [ Unfinished .] 


Henry  Pelham  to  Charles  Pelham 

Boston,  June  5,  1775. 

Dear  Brother, 

Your  letter  of  the  31st  ultimo  I duly  rece[i]vd,  and  am 
pleased  that  it  was  in  my  Power  to  transmitt  what  You  there 
requested  by  my  very  worthy  Namesake  Mr.  Henry  Bromfield 
Junr.  I should  have  sent  it  sooner  but  could  get  no  safe  Convey- 
ance. however  hope  it  came  in  season  to  be  serviceable.  By 
him  I likewise  sent  a letter  I took  out  of  the  Post  office  for  which 


326 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1775 


paid  2/ 5,  which  with  1 1 Johan,  and  15/  in  Change  is  I think  the 
sum  of  your  account.  Harry  doub[t]less  gave  you  more  intel- 
legence  respecting  your  Friends  in  this  Town  than  I can  in  the 
Compass  of  a Letter,  and  I suppose  inform’d  you  of  my  return 
to  town  the  day  I was  last  at  your  House : Sister  Copley  sailed 
Saturday  sivnigh[t]  with  her  little  Family  for  England.  She 
desired  her  kindest  Love  to  you  and  My  Sister  Pelham,  is  very  • 
sor[r]y  she  could  not  make  out  to  see  you  before  she  left  the 
Place  which  was  very  sudden.  I cant  but  say  I am  glad  they  are 
gone.  I propose  going  there  myself  with  my  Mother,  if  I can 
prevail  upon  her  to  undertake  the  Voyage,  which  I am  some- 
what fearful  I shall  not  be  able  to  do.  if  not,  I will  endeavour 
to  get  her  Consent  for  my  spending  the  Winter  there,  which  all 
my  other  fri[e]nds  strongly  urge,  as  I shall  have  nothing  to  do 
at  home,  and  have  no  doubt  but  I shall  be  able  at  least  to  bear 
my  expences  there.  This  is  a plan  I don’t  allow  myself  to  think 
I shall  not  execute.  I shall  in  that  case  beg  it  as  a favour  that 
you  would  give  me  an  introductory  Letter  to  our  Aunt  whom 
I shall  make  it  a point  to  Visitt.  But  before  I go  can’t  you 
contrive  for  me  having  an  interview  at  the  Lines?  I want  it. 
much  and  beg  if  possable  it  may  be  soon,  if  you  can  appo[i]nt 
a time  I will  get  there,  but  let  it  bee  soon  in  the  Mon’g  and  give 
timly  Notice. 

The  inclosed  Letter  I am  desired  to  forward  you  as  soon  as  I 
can,  and  must  be  answerd  as  soon  as  possable.  I have  been  for 
near  a fortnight  past  much  affected  with  a violent  ague  in  my 
face,  which  I hope  is  now  going  off.  I pray  God  to  bless  all  my 
dear  Friends  at  Newton,  beg  to  be  kindly  Remembered  to 
them  an[d]  am  with  affection  and  esteem  dear  Sir  you[r]  ever 
affe[c]tion[ate]  Brother.  * 


pelham’s  sketch  of  the  redoubt  on  bunker  hill 


328 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1775 


Copley  to  his  Mother 

Parma,  June  the  25,  1775. 
My  ever  Dear  and  Hon’d  Mother, 

By  this  oppertunity  I have  the  happiness  to  inform  you  of 
my  safe  arrival  in  this  place.  I left  Rome  the  4th  Instant  and 
had  a very  agreable  Journey  to  this  place,  stoping  at  Florance 
4 Days,  and  two  at  Belogna  in  my  way.  I have  been  blessed 
with  the  most  perfect  health  since  I left  Boston,  and  trust  in 
that  God  who  has  preserved  and  blessed  me  for  a continuance 
of  his  Mercy  to  me  in  the  contin[u]ance  of  the  injoyments  of 
not  only  my  own  health,  but  that  of  my  dear  friends  and  all 
other  blessings  he  has  been  pleased  to  bestow  on  me  in  his 
abundant  goodness.  The  being  seperated  from  friends  I so 
tenderly  love  is  exceedingly  painfull  to  me,  and  my  angsiety  is 
greatly  increased  by  the  unhappy  state  of  America.  I pray 
God  preserve  and  keep  you  all  from  the  Miserys  of  War.  by 
the  last  post  I had  a letter  from  Mr.  Greenwood  in  London,  and 
am  exceedingly  distressed  to  find  there  is  no  prospect  of  any 
thing  less  distressing  than  a Civil  War  spreading  itself  over 
that  once  happy  Country,  he  writes  me  it  has  began  already 
with  the  spiling  of  the  blood  of  an  hundred  and  fifty  or  two 
hundred  persons.  I hope  it  is  not  so  distressing,  but  I cannot 
divest  myself  of  the  most  ancious  apprehentions  for  my 
Country  and  Friends. 

While  I was  in  Rome  I saw  the  English  Papers  twice  a Week, 
but  in  this  place  I have  not  the  least  oppertunity  of  hearing  but 
by  letters  from  my  friends  which  I am  very  ancious  to  receive. 
I have  began  my  copy  of  the  very  fine  Corregio,  for  which  I have 
a commission  from  an  English  Nobleman.  I have  half  Dead 
Colour’d  my  copy,  tho  I have  been  here  only  one  Week.  I hope 


>775 


Copley -Pelham  Letters  329 

to  be  able  with  great  diligence  to  finish  it  in  about  two  months, 
when  I shall  hasten  to  England  by  the  way  of  Flanders.  You 
can  have  no  Idea  how  easy  it  is  to  travil  in  this  Country,  and 
none  of  those  dangers  or  dificultys  attend  it  which  are  immag- 
ined  by  People  that  have  not  been  in  Europe,  it  is  only  passing 
from  one  Town  to  another,  as  from  Boston  to  Roxbury,  and 
the  whole  way  houses,  and  People  ready  to  do  what  ever  you 
may  want.  Roberys  are  very  rarely  known  to  be  perpitrated, 
and  so  much  security  from  things  of  this  kind  that  people  travil 
much  more  by  night  than  Day  in  the  warm  weither.  it  is  not  so 
in  England.  The  great  dificultys  that  attend  traviling  here  is 
that  the  people  will  impose  on  one  if  it  is  possable  for  them  to  do 
it;  for  there  is  no  regulations  for  the  Inns,  and  they  will  make 
the  most  of  their  Gests.  so  that  it  is  necessary  to  agree  for  every 
thing  one  wants  on  the  Road,  and  in  every  place  I find  English- 
men to  associate  with,  even  in  this  place,  which  I think  a little 
obscure  place  after  being  so  long  in  Rome  and  other  Great 
Citys,  there  is  at  this  time  two  English  persons,  and  one  other 
who  has  resided  so  long  in  England  that  I must  consider  him  as 
such.  I don’t  recollect  being  in  any  place  since  I left  London 
but  what  I met  some  English  to  associate  with,  which  is  very 
different  from  what  I%expected.  I am  now  five  hundred  and 
twenty  miles  nearer  London  that  I was  at  the  extreeme  part  of 
my  Tour,  which  was  Pestum,  an  ancient  City,  about  sixty  miles 
beyand  Naples,  there  is  to  be  seen  of  this  City  the  Walls,  and 
the  Vestiges  of  three  or  four  Temples,  and  an  Amphitheater, 
this  is  all  that  remains  to  be  seen  at  this  Day.  the  Ground  for 
Ages  has  been  plowed  and  so  little  has  this  place  been  known 
that  it  is  not  menshoned  by  any  Auther,  tho  a place  of  as  much 
curiossityas  any  I have  seen,  except  Pompei  andHerculaneam. 
from  its  antiquety  and  singular  Stile  of  Architecture  it  derives 


» 


33° 


Copley -‘Pelham  Letters 


1 775 


its  curiosity,  it  being  older  than  Rome  and  it[s]  Architecture 
that  of  the  first  dawning  of  that  Science  among  the  Greeks.  I 
think  the  Walls  of  this  City  are  about  4 or  5 and  twenty  feet 
thick,  it  lays  on  the  Seacoast  in  a fine  Bay,  and  the  Ground 
is  very  level  within  the  Walls,  which  are  in  circumferance  about 
four  miles,  this  place  I am  glad  to  have  seen,  though  I should 
not  have  extended  my  Tour  so  far,  had  not  Mr.  Izard  invited 
me  to  accumpany  him  their  from  Naples,  we  performed  this 
Tour,  stayed  at  Pestum  3 hours,  and  got  back  to  Naples  in 
three  Days.  Mr.  Izard  has  been  very  much  my  friend  on  this 
Tour,  and  from  Naples  to  Rome  he  would  pay  all  my  expences, 
and  has  shewn  the  greatest  desire  possable  to  render  me  every 
service  in  his  power.  I received  a letter  from  him  by  the  last 
Post  from  London,  where  he  and  his  Lady  are  safe  arrived,  he 
is  a native  of  Carolina  and  his  Lady  of  New  York  and  of  the 
De  Lancy  Family,  and  a very  fine  Woman.1  I had  no  acquaint- 
ance with  him  in  America,  but  at  Florance  he  inquired  for  me 
and  called  to  see  me  and  I have  found  him  a very  Valuable 
Friend.  Mr.  Boylston2  has  been  within  a few  weeks  past  at 
Leghorn  after  his  return  from  Turkey.  We  exchanged  three  or 
four  Letters,  but  he  is  now  gone  on  to  Paris,  and  has  perfectly 
recouvered  his  health,  he  writes  me  he  is  impatient  to  get  to 
England,  being  worn  out  with  continual  traviling,  having 
traviled  14000  miles,  and  that  chiefly  by  land.  I dont  wonder 
he  is  tired  of  traviling.  I am  happy  to  hear  Brother  Harry  has 
recovered  his  health.  I hope  he  will  long  injoy  that  Blessing 
with  all  others  that  are  reasonable  to  expect.  I hope  he  con- 
tinues to  be  imploy’d.  I intend  writing  him  by  this  oppertun- 
ity,  but  should  be  glad  to  hear  oftener  from  him.  I think  he 


1 Alice,  daughter  of  Peter  de  Lancey. 

2 Ward  Nicholas  Boylston  (1749-1828). 


177  5 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


33 1 


might  write  to  me  by  every  oppertunity  and  that  he  might 
write  more  on  one  sheat  of  Paper  than  he  does.  I set  him  a good 
example  I am  sure.  I think  there  is  nothing,  when  he  has  read 
one  of  my  letters,  he  would  wish  to  ask  me,  so  perticular  I am 
in  my  desires  to  gratify  and  instruct  him.  I wish  he  would 
consider  that  the  smallest  surcumstances  are  rendered  inter- 
esting from  the  distance  I am  at  and  I wish  to  ask  him  a thou- 
sand questions.  I am  not  sattisfyed  with  a few  lines  containing 
a few  formal  sentiments.  I want  [news]  of  everything  about 
his  works,  the  Farm,  the  Publick,  etc.,  etc.  In  his  last  Letter 
he  informed  me  he  had  painted  a miniature  and  sent  it  to  the 
Exibition,  but  as  I did  not  find  it  in  the  Cattalogues  I conclude 
it  arrived  too  late.  I shall  wish  to  see  somthing  next  year  exib- 
ited  by  him.  his  process  in  Miniature  is  I beleive  very  right, 
only  Mr.  Humphreys  tells  me  he  uses  no  Shugar  Candy  in  his 
colours;  that  he  tints  them  at  first  exceeding  faint,  and  so 
brings  on  their  effect  by  degrees.  I wish  when  I get  back  to 
England  to  see  the  Picture  he  sent,  but  for  this  he  must 
send  me  a direction.  I wish  also  to  have  a direction  to  write 
to  My  Uncle  Singleton,  and  Aunt  Cooper;  also  a Direction  to 
the  Gentleman  that  transacts  his  Aunts  Pelham’s  Business,  for 
my  attention  to  this  shall  be  immediately  on  my  arrival  in 
London. 

I think  I shall  be  able  to  pay  the  expences  of  my  Tour  by 
what  I shall  have  done  in  this  Country,  or  near  it;  although  it 
has  not  been  in  my  power  to  do  a couple  of  Pictures  that  [were] 
bespoke,  one  was  a Madonna  and  Child  by  Guido  in  Rome, 
this  there  was  no  possability  of  geting  leave  to  Copy,  the  other 
the  Madonna  at  Florance  by  Raphael,  the  same  that  used  to 
hang  over  my  Chimney,  this  I could  not  stay  to  do  without 
hazarding  my  place  at  Parma  being  taken  by  some  other 


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1 775 


Artists,  as  there  was  several  prepairing  for  that  purpose,  and 
it  was  too  important  an  object  to  miss,  the  Copy,  if  done  as  I 
hope  to  do  it,  will  be  a very  valuable  thing  and  I shall  be  paid 
accordingly  for  it,  not  being  limmited  in  price.  I have  procured 
the  copy  of  Guido’s  Aurora  for  Mr.  Palmer,  it  is  in  Warter 
colours  and  will  be  in  England  by  the  time  I get  there,  with  my 
other  things,  the  original  is  a very  fine  thing  indeed  and  I 
doubt  not  you  will  be  much  pleased  with  the  Copy  when  you 
see  it.  I have  seen  a letter  from  Rome  by  which  find  menshon 
is  made  of  a Skirmish  having  been  at  Lexington,  and  that 
numbers  were  killed  on  boath  sides.  I am  exceeding  uneasy  not 
knowing  to  what  you  may  be  exposed  in  a Country  that  is  now 
become  the  seat  of  War.  this  is  the  evil  I greatly  dreaded  while 
I was  in  America,  sure  I am  the  breach  cannot  now  be  healled, 
and  that  country  will  be  torn  in  peices,  first  by  the  quarrel  with 
Great  Briton  till  it  is  a distinct  Government,  and  than  with  Civil 
discord  till  time  has  settled  it  into  some  permanant  form  of 
Government,  what  that  will  be  no  Man  Can  tell,  weither  it 
will  be  a free  or  Dispotick  is  beyand  the  reach  of  human  wisdom 
to  deside,  in  the  mean1  time  we  must  pursue  that  which  is  our 
Duty  and  to  Providence  look  up  for  a blessing  on  what  we  do. 
I hope  you  dont  think  I neglect  you  in  not  writing  oftner  to 
you,  but  I let  no  private  oppertunity  escape  me  without 
improveing  it.  I wish  they  were  more  frequent,  by  the  Post 
I write  very  constantly  to  my  Dear  Wife,  by  which  you  have 
every  thing  meterial  and  I think  it  is  pity  to  pay  postage  for 
Letters  to  more  than  one.  I pray  God  keep  and  preserve  you 
from  every  evil,  and  am,  My  Dear  Madam,  Your  Most  Affec- 
tionate and  Dutyfull  Son 

John  Singleton  Copley. 


Parma,  the  ist  of  July,  1 775. 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


333 


1775 


Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 


Parma,  the  25  of  June,  1775. 


Dear  Harry, 

1 It  is  now  a considerable  time  since  I wrote  you,  not  having  a 
private  conveyance  of  a Letter  to  you;  but  at  this  time  an 
English  Artist  is  going  to  London  and  I imbrace  with  the 
greatest  pleasure  every  oppertunity  of  instructing  you  and 
testifying  that  sincere  Love  I bear  you.  I think  I have  given 
you  the  best  Idea  I am  capable  of  in  writing  of  the  Works  of 
the  great  Artists.  I think  I began  with  Vandyke’s  Works  in 
England,  than  Rubens’s  at  the  Luximburg,  Raphael’s  and 
Titiano’s  at  Rome.  But  I think  I have  not  yet  finish’d  with 
Titiano.  his  last  manner  is  that  which  I have  dwelt  upon. 
I shall  now  endeavour  to  convey  to  you  his  first  and  best  man- 
ner, and  shall  keep  in  my  eye  his  Venus  at  Florance,  as  I think 
it  is  the  finest  thing  he  has  produced,  it  differs  from  his  last 
manner  in  its  being  more  finished,  and  in  all  parts  having  a 
greater  degree  of  precision  in  boath  Colour  and  Contour,  you 
have  seen  the  Print,  and  I presume  Mr  West’s  Copy.  I shall 
indeavour  to  build  on  them  my  discription.  in  them  you  have 
the  Light  and  Shadow,  and  outline,  and  disposition;  so  what 
remains  for  me  to  give  is  the  colouring,  and  penciling,  you 
doubtless  thought  Mr.  West’s  Copy  finely  Coloured;  but  if  I 
remember  it  right  it  has  more  of  an  Inamil’d  look  than  the 
original,  indeed  all  Pictures  compaired  to  Titianos  have  this 
look,  that  is  more  white,  read,  black,  blew,  etc.  if  you  put  your 
hand  to  the  flesh  of  this  Venus  you  will  find  it  the  same  Colour, 
if  you  put  your  hand  on  any  other  you  will  find  the  Paint  has 
more  of  the  dauby,  smooth  or  pasety  look,  blacker  than  the 
flesh,  at  the  same  time  whiter,  boath  paler  and  reader.  If  you 


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examin  the  knee  and  part  of  the  thigh  of  the  little  Jesus  in  the 
Madonna’s  lap  at  Mr.  Chardons,  you  will  find  that  compaires 
very  well  with  the  flesh,  if  you  put  your  hand  to  it,  but  yet  it  is 
not  exactly  Titian.  I recommend  to  you  to  take  some  spirits  of 
Turpentine  and  mix  up  a flesh  tint  and  put  it  on  a peace  of 
linen  cloath;  than  mix  another  with  oyl  of  Poppy  or  nuts,  and 
put  that  on  the  linen  by  the  side  of  the  other,  and  you  will  see  a 
briliancy  and  Strength  in  that  mixt  with  turpentine,  and  the 
other  will  look  Dark,  cold,  and  greasy,  the  same  differance  you 
find  between  those  tints,  you  find  between  the  Pictures  of  Titian 
and  those  of  other  masters.  I must  indeed  allow  that  the  Vene- 
cian  Masters  in  general  seem  to  have  the  same  colouring  that 
Titian  has,  only  not  carried  to  that  perfection.  I have  formed 
in  my  mind  from  the  most  attentive  consideration  of  Titiano, 
a process  which  I think  will  produce  somthing  like  his  Colour- 
ing. it  is  as  Follows:  Take  a good  Cloath,  pass  over  it  with 
Spanish’d  White  mix’d  with  size,  so  rubed  into  the  Cloath  that 
all  the  pores  are  filled,  let  it  dry.  than  with  your  pencil  draw 
your  outline  with  Dark  colour,  this  done,  set  your  Pallet  with 
Colours  ground  in  oyf,  as  you  get  them  from  the  Colour  shop. 
They  will  be  very  stiff,  dilute  them  with  spirits  of  Turpentine, 
and  paint  your  Picture  with  a good  body  in  the  lights  and  very 
thin  in  the  shades,  and  in  this  way  bring  your  Picture  to  as 
great  a degree  of  perfection  as  you  can.  when  you  can  do  no 
more,  pass  over  your  Picture  (which  will  be  intirely  sunk  in) 
with  mastick  Varnish,  let  it  dry  and  your  Picture  will  appear 
very  brilliant,  and  have  an  even  gloss,  this  done,  take  retouch- 
ing Varnish  and  anoint  the  picture,  not  all  over  at  once  but  by 
peace  meal,  for  instance  an  head,  hand,  etc.,  or  what  ever  you 
mean  to  improve,  and  finish  your  Picture  by  glaizeings  with 
Colours  first  ground  in  oyl  and  than  diluted  with  the  retouching 


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Varnish,  and  if  necessary  add  a little  oyl.  by  glaizeings  I mean 
not  only  glaizeing  in  the  Shadows,  but  Scumbling  all  over  the 
lights  with  Virgin  tints,  makeing  some  parts  reader,  some 
lighter,  some  blewer,  etc.,  and  giving  a greater  breadth  to  some 
parts  by  making  a number  of  minute  tints  harmonise  by  one 
general  Scumble  of  fine  flesh  Colour,  your  Picture,  when  dry, 
Varnish  with  Mastick  Varnish,  or  Spirit  Varnish  if  it  will  bear 
it;  but  I should  think  without  trying  itv  it  would  tear  up  the 
Colours.  I think  Titian  has  managed  somthing  in  this  way, 
and  many  of  his  shades  are  given  only  by  the  glaizeings.  for 
instance  the  thighs  of  his  Venus  were  laid  in  without  the  divi- 
tion  between  them  being  marked,  and  when  he  came  to  glaize, 
he  has  run  over  with  a tint  through  which  you  see  the  flesh  and 
marked  this  divition  in  this  way.  you  must  conceive  that  the 
flesh  tints  are  preserved  throughout  every  part,  you  must 
have  a perfect  Idea  of  what  I mean.  I think  the  method  is  very 
simple,  and  if  you  have  a mind  to  try  it,  it  wont  cost  you  much 
time,  for  I would  not  have  you  spend  much  time  in  experiments, 
if  you  should  do  some  little  thing,  I dont  mean  a finish’d  Pic- 
ture, send  it  me  and  I shall  give  you  my  opinion  on  it.  You  are 
to  remember  after  all  that  the  eye  and  Judgment  is  to  be  ac- 
quired by  diligence  for  the  produceing  fine  things;  without 
those  no  receipt  will  avail,  the  receipt  is  only  to  inable  a man 
to  effect  what  his  Judgment  informs  him  aught  to  be  done. 
The  receipt  for  the  Varnishes  are  as  follows:  to  make  Mastick 
Varnish : Take  of  the  whitest  Gum  Mastick  6 Ounces,  Spirits  of 
Turpentine  7 Ounces;  put  them  into  a bottle  well  corked,  put  the 
bottle  into  a Pot  of  Waiter  over  the  fire,  not  leting  the  bottle 
touch  the  bottum  of  the  Pot.  Shake  the  bottle  every  quarter 
of  an  hour  till  the  Gum  is  dissolved,  let  it  stand  by  the  fire  and 
in  the  hot  waiter  till  it  is  settled,  and  than  it  is  fit  for  use.  - 


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Retouching  Varnish:  Take  of  Gum  Mastick  2 Ounces,1 
Shugar  of  lead  1 Ounce,  or  some  thing  less,  grind  them  very  fine 
on  a Clean  stone;  than  Put  Nut  or  Poppy  Oyl  as  much  as  is 
sufficient  to  liquify  them;  put  this  into  a vessel  with  a little 
Oyl  over  it  to  keep  it  from  Drying,  but  let  no  waiter  be  put  on 
it.  this  Varnish  looks  as  it  lays  on  the  Pallet  like  Jelly.  The 
same  process  that  I have  discribed  above  one  Mr.  Dean,  a good 
Landscape  Painter,  pursues  in  his  lanscapes,  with  this  differ- 
ance  only,  that  his  Cloaths  are  primed  with  Oyl  Colour  and 
he  dead  colours  with  Oyl  of  Poppy;  that  is  he  Paints  as  you  do, 
only  when  he  has  done  as  much  as  he  can  with  a body  of 
Colours  he  Varnishes  with  Mastick,  and  than  after  that  is  dry 
he  anoints  out  his  Picture  with  retouching  Varnish  with  a 
brush,  than  with  another  dry  one  he  drys  his  Picture  as  much 
as  possable,  and  then  Glaizes  all  parts  of  his  Picture,  even  his 
Sky,  with  White  and  Ultramarine,  his  Colours  ar[e]  diluted 
with  retoching  Varnish.  A method  to  purify  Oyl:  take  1 Pint 
of  Nut  or  Poppy  Oyl,  one  Pint  of  waiter;  Put  them  together 
into  a bottle  or  flask  and  put  the  flask  into  the  Sun,  and  shake 
it  four  or  five  times  a Day  for  a bout  a fortnight,  pound  very 
fine  some  white  Marble  and  put  it  into  the  flask;  at  the  last 
shaking  this  will  fine  it.  Sand  will  do,  if  you  cannot  easily  get 
marble. 

The  Gum  you  may  purify  in  the  following  manner:  put  it 
on  a Paper,  lay  the  Paper  on  a plate  of  Iron  over  a moderate 
heat  till  the  Gum  is  soft;  than  press  the  Gum  with  your  finger 
and  thumb  and  the  Clear  will  press  out,  leaving  all  the  gross 
parts  behind. 

Mr.  Wests  Receipt  for  retouching  Varnish  is  differant  from 

1 On  the  margin  is  written:  “You  will  find  it  dificult  to  grind  the  Gum;  it  being 
apt  to  cake  under  the  Muller.  You  had  best  Grind  it  by  it  self.” 


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the  above,  and  is  as  follows:  Take  about  one  Ounce  of  Gum 
Mastick,  Dissolve  it  in  Spirits  of  Turpentine,  and  while  it-  is 
warm  add  about  a Table  spoonfull  of  Nut  or  Poppy  Oyl,  and 
add  about  half  a Table  spoonfull  of  Spermicity  to  break  the 
texture  of  the  Gum.  this  you  apply  to  your  Picture  with  a 
brush,  it  will  never  change  or  leave  any  stain.  The  quantity  of 
Turpentine  should  be  so  much  that  when  the  Gum  is  dissolved 
it  will  be  of  the  consistancy  of  Honey,  it  may  be  about  i 
Ounce  of  Gum  to  an  Ounce  of  Spirits  of  Turpentine.  Another 
Receipt:  Take  of  Gum  Mastick  somthing  more  than  a Table 
spoonfull,  and  put  it  into  a Gill  of  Spirits  of  Turpentine,  put 
also  into  it  half  as  much  Spermacity  as  Gum,  and  when  dis- 
solved apply  it  to  your  Picture  with  a brush.  A method  to  give 
richness  to  your  Colours:  Take  of  Gum  Mastick  as  much  as  a 
Table  spoon  will  hold,  put  it  into  a Gill  of  Poppy  Oyl,  warm  it 
over  the  fire  till  the  Gum  dissolves,  and  than  Mix  it  with  your 
Colours.1 

You  will  see  all  these  receipts  are  very  nearly  the  same,  only 
Mr.  West  puts  Spermiceity  in  his,  which  I think  cannot  be 
any  advantage,  if  the  Colours  can  be  used  without  it,  as  I 
suppose  they  may,  and  are  by  other  Artists,  these  are  the 
Varnishes  used  among  Painters,  my  spirit  Varnish  is  unknown 
to  them  and  I think  if  these  Varnishes  would  bear  the  Spirit  at 
last  it  would  be  very  well.  I have  never  yet  try’d  any  of  these, 
but  as  they  are  in  such  general  use  I think  there  is  no  Danger 
in  useing  them.  Mr.  West  has  sometimes  put  Copeall  Varnish 
in  his  Colours,  he  mixes  as  much  of  it  with  Poppy  Oyl  as  will 

1 There  is  a bracket  opposite  this  paragraph  with  the  words,  “ from  Mr.  West.” 
On  the  margin  is  written:  “You  must  observe  than  when  you  have  put  the  re- 
touching Varnish  on  your  Picture  that  you  wipe  it  off  as  clean  as  you  can  with  a 
little  Cotton  Wool,  or  Peice  of  Woolin  Cloath.” 


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consist  with  the  free  use  of  the  Pencil  in  applying  the  Colours 
to  the  Canvis.  he  says  it  gives  great  richness  to  the  Colours. 
I find  the  Picture  I am  now  Copying  so  remarkably  rich  in  the 
tints  and  Clear  at  the  same  time,  that  I am  convinced  Corregio 
must  have  use’d  Varnish  or  somthing  of  that  sort  in  his  Colours ; 
but  weither  it  is  best,  if  Gum  is  used,  to  dissolve  it  in  Oyl,  as 
Mr.  West  does,  or  Grind  and  mix  it  with  the  Oyl,  as  in  my  first 
method,  I dont  know,  as  I have  not  try’d  either  method.  And 
the  more  I reflect  on  the  effect  of  Gum  being  mixed  with  the 
Colours,  the  more  I am  incou raged  to  beleive  it  will  have  a 
tendancy  to  keep  the  Colours  from  changeing,  and  at  first 
give  them  brilliancy,  but  I could  like  to  finish  then  with  Spirit 
Varnish,  that  is  when  my  Picture  was  intirely  done  Varnish 
with  it,  and  if  the  Spermicity  is  not  used  in  the  retouching 
Varnish,  I think  it  would  do  very  well,  and  Spermaceity  is 
use’d  by  Mr.  West  only  and  not  by  other  Artists.  But  your 
great  object  is  to  acquire  thourough  Mastery  of  the  principals 
and  exicution  of  Your  Art,  and  these  Delicasy’s  of  Art  must 
come  in  as  ornaments  to  those.  In  about  one  week  from  this 
time  you  will  receive  my  letters  by  Mr.  Izard.  I have  there 
been  perticular,  But  I must  renew  my  injunctions  to  you  to 
be  diligent.  I would  have  you  get  an  Anatomycal  figure;  it 
may  be  had  at  Smibert’s  and  with  a book  learn  the  mussels 
with  their  uses  and  incertions.  dont  go  below  the  external 
Mussels.  The  length  of  the  bones  you  have  in  the  Book  of  the 
Antique  Statues  publish’d  with  their  measures.  When  you 
know  the  Mussels  (by  the  way  you  must  begin  with  the  Bones 
before  the  external  Mussels),  You  may  sketch  any  figure  from 
Idea  well  anough  for  an  historical  composition.  I mean  the 
first  sketch,  it  is  an  amasing  advantage  in  the  pursuit  of  any 
Study  to  know  one  is  right,  and  one-half  is  in  a confidence  that 


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339 


one  can  do  what  they  wish.  A man  in  this  must  have  as  much 
faith  that  he  can  do  what  he  undertakes  as  a Christian  must 
have  in  the  truth  of  his  religion.  When  you  know  the  bones 
and  Mussels,  which  you  will  very  soon,  you  will  have  acquired 
one  very  necessary  thing,  and  if  you  should  than  (as  I would 
have  you)  sketch  any  Historical  Subject,  the  first  thing  you 
will  do  will  be  to  fix  on  the  disposition  of  your  figures,  and  if 
you  should  find  yourself  at  a loss  for  the  appearance  of  any  of 
the  figures  as  you  may  in  Certan  attitudes,  so  that  you  cannot 
sketch  them  near  anough,  and  as  you  cannot  have  recou[r]se 
to  the  life  except  that  you  may  try  the  Attitude  before  a Glass, 
you  have  some  good  Accademy  figures  that  will  help  you  in 
this,  but  observe  by  this  I dont  mean  to  draw  you  from  your 
portraits,  for  that  is  the  most  advantageous  at  least  at  present, 
only  I don’t  think  a Man  a perfect  Artist  who  on  occation  can- 
not Paint  History,  and  who  knows  but  you  may  have  a talent 
in  history  like  Raphael  till  you  try;  and  if  you  have,  your  for- 
tune is  secure  in  this  Life,  but  not  to  dwell  on  this  proceed  as  I 
have  directed,  and  when  you  have  master’d  what  I have  men- 
shoned,  send  me  a sketch,  you  have  as  good  or  a better  layman 
than  any  I have  seen  since  I left  America  for  your  Draperys. 
the  best  Drapery  for  History  is  Cloath,  flaniel  or  Linnen,  Wet 
and  rung  out.  Mind  always  to  get  a breadth  of  Light  and 
Shadow  as  one  great  thing  assential  in  Art.  And  dont  be  dis- 
couraged if  you  should  make  two  or  three  sketches  and  they 
dont  please;  for  Mr.  West  told  me  he  beleived  he  had  made 
fifty  at  least  for  his  return  of  Regulus ; and  Mr.  Hamilton 1 has 
had  a sketch  in  Colours  on  his  easel  ever  since  I came  to  Rome, 
and  how  much  longer  I know  not,  and  every  now  and  than 
altering  some  part  of  it,  and  had  not  done  it  when  I left  Rome. 

1 Gavin  Hamilton  (1730-1797). 


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1 775 


it  is  the  Parting  of  Hector  and  his  wife,  but  when  you  have  got 
your  general  Idea  fixed  and  so  that  you  wish  to  shade,  I mean 
with  any  degree  of  accuracy,  I recommend  as  in  my  last  letter 
that  you  do  this  figure  by  figure.  When  I was  at  Modena  I saw 
an  original  Drawing  of  the  figure  in  the  Transfiguration  that 
points  up  to  the  Mount  shaded,  cut  off  by  the  out  line  of  the 
parts  of  the  other  figures.  I was  pleased  because  confirmed  in 
this  method  of  proceeding,  but  portrait  painting  I shall  pursue, 
unless  tempted  to  some  things  in  history  by  any  that  may  wish 
to  imploy  me  in  that  way.  Mr.  Hamilton  observed  just  before 
I left  Rome  that  I was  better  establish’d  than  Mr.  West, 
because  he  could  not  paint  such  portraits  as  those  of  Mr  Izard 
and  Lady,  and  portraits  are  always  in  demand.  I am  happy 
in  the  reflection  that  you  have  made  a progress  I think  equil  to 
most  of  your  Age  that  are  in  Europe,  and  certain  I am  if  you 
apply  with  Vigour  you  will  succeed  very  well.  I have  no  doubt 
you  will  greatly  profit  by  what  I write  you,  and  I shall  be  happy 
to  see  somthing  of  yours  better  than  any  thing  you  had  done 
when  I was  in  Boston.  You  are  to  remember  that  the  works  of 
the  great  Masters  are  but  Pictures,  and  when  a man  can  go 
but  a very  little  beyond  his  cotemporarys  he  becomes  a great 
Man.  the  differance  between  Raphael,  Titiano,  Angelo  and 
the  common  run  of  moderately  good  Artists,  is  not  so  great 
as  one  would  Imagin  from  the  Praises  bestow’d  on  those  Great 
men.  but  they  are  the  first  Artists  and  they  merit  the  Most 
elaborate  Praises  from  the  World.  The  Picture  of  a Naked 
Venus  and  Cupid  at  Smibert’s  is  Copy’d  from  one  of  Titiano’s 
in  the  possession  of  the  Great  Duke  of  Tuskany,  which  hangs 
over  the  Celebrated  Titian  Venus,  but  is  by  no  means  equil  to 
it.  the  little  head  of  St.  John  that  hangs  by  the  side  of  the 
window  in  your  little  Painting  Room  is  copyed  from  a St. 


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34i 


John  in  an  holy  Family  by  Titiano  in  the  same  appartment, 
and  in  its  general  effect  just  what  Titianos  is.  perhaps  it  may 
have  been  an  original  sketch  by  Titian  for  that  Picture.  I 
know  you  are  happy  in  this  acqui[si]tion  and  you  may  wonder 
in  my  account  of  Titian’s  works  I had  not  refered  to  this ; but 
I don’t  know  weither  it  is  like  Titian  in  the  smaller  beautys  of 
Painting,  tho  in  the  Whole,  as  well  as  I remember,  it  is  very 
just,  if  at  Philadelphia  you  saw  in  Mr.  Allens  house  A Picture 
containing  three  figures  very  Dark,  one  of  them  playing  on  a 
harpsicord  with  the  head  much  turned  to  one  Shoulder,  you 
will  be  glad  to  know  it  is  a Copy  of  Georgione.  one  observa- 
tion more  on  Titian  and  I think  I have  left  nothing  unexplaind 
to  the  utmost  of  my  power,  it  is  this,  that  his  shades  are  light 
on  his  flesh,  tho  other  parts  of  his  Picture  have  very  Dark 
masses,  but  I am  not  sure  if  in  a body  of  Oyl  Colours  the  Shade 
were  made  light  as  his  it  would  not  look  faint,  as  you  see  in 
Crayons  the  shades  are  much  fainter  or  lighter  than  in  Oyl, 
yet  they  look  foarceable  anough.  for  Titian’s  Pictures  have 
somthing  of  the  look  of  strong  tinted  Crayon  Pictures,  that 
kind  of  Dry  look  yet  not  meally.  but  as  I think  a Picture 
would  look  painted  as  above  discribed,  for  it  would  be  intirely 
sunk  in  as  Dead  as 'Crayons  and  the  Varnishing  over  this 
would  by  no  means  destroy  this  appearance,  some  that  have 
indeavoured  to  imitate  Titian  have  painted  first  in  Waiter 
Colours,  than  Glaized  with  Oyl.  Mr.  West  has  done  this,  and 
produced  somthing  like  Titian;  but  I conceived  by  puting  Oyl 
on,  the  Picture  becomes  Oyl  Painting,  which  my  process  does 
not  from  the  Varnish  laying  over  this  Dry  Colour,  which  pre- 
vents the  Oyl  entering  in  to  the  Colours,  and  of  consiquence 
the  under  Colours  cannot  change.  And  if  the  Varnish  should, 
you  will  always  see  those  bright  Colours  through  the  Varnish. 


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but  one  tryal  will  determin  the  point,  at  least  it  would  with  me 
who  have  seen  Titian’s  Pictures.  I shall  Try  an  head  the  first 
oppertunity  I can  get  for  that  purpose,  but  I shall  not  perplex 
myself  with  striveing  to  investigate  the  manner  of  any  Painter, 
only  in  one  or  two  experiments  that  wont  cost  me  many  hours. 
Indeed  Sr.  Jos:  Renolds,  Mr.  West,  and  many  others,  say  I 
should  be  very  rong  to  alter  my  manner,  indeed  it  is  the  same 
with  that  of  the  Roman  School  in  which  they  have  produced 
the  finest  Pictures  in  the  World.  Before  I leave  Rome  I should 
give  you  my  remarks  on  Michael  Angelo’s  Works,  but  I shall 
go  a little  out  of  that  regular  way  of  proceeding  and  Take  up 
Corregio  first,  as  I am  before  him,  and  strive  to  inform  you  of 
his  excellencys  In  the  best  manner  possable.  but  I must  sus- 
pend this  till  another  oppertunity,  and  hope  you  will  excuse  the 
inaccurac[i]es  in  this  Letter,  for  I have  no  time  to  write  it  over 
on  other  Paper,  and  I only  aim  to  be  understood,  if  I am  my 
aim  is  answered.  I should  have  sent  you  the  receipts  for 
Varnishes  sooner,  but  it  was  my  intention  to  have  try’d  them 
first  myself;  but  I have  not  been  able  to  do  it.  Some  Persons 
make  their  Varnish  much  Stronger  of  the  Gum,  and  make  no 
differance  between  retouching  Varnish  and  Other,  they  put  3 
Ounces  of  Gum  to  one  Ounce  of  Spirits  of  Turpentine,  and 
when  they  would  paint  over  a head  the  second  time  or  third, 
with  a brush  rub  this  Varnish  over  the  head  and  paint  on  it. 
Mr.  Hamilton  uses  none  for  retouch[ing]  his  Pictures  but  a little 
Oyl  as  I used  to  do.  On  the  whole  I think  the  first  Varnishes 
I have  menshoned  seem  to  me  to  have  the  advantage,  and 
they  are  what  I shall  try  first,  and  shall  let  you  know  my 
oppinion  of  them  on  the  tryal,  and  which  if  you  should  do  any 
thing  you  would  be  very  perticular  in  your  remarks  on  it.  But 
I must  bid  you  Adieu  for  the  present,  remember  me  to  all 


1775 


Copley  -Pelham  Letters 


343 


friends  and  beleive  me  with  sincere  Love  your  Affectionate 
Brother, 

John  Singleton  Copley. 

Parma,  the  2d  of  July,  1775. 

This  Day  will  dead  Colour  all  my  Picture  of  St.  Jerome. 


Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

[Parma,  July  15,  1775.]1 

Dear  Harry, 

The  deplorable  state  of  Boston  is  such  that  I dont  know 
what  you  may  be  called  to  in  so  critical  a conjunctor.  it  may 
be  (for  my  fears  suggest  many  terrable  things)  that  you  are 
called  to  Arm  yourself.  But  if  you  should  be,  it  is  my  injuntion 
that  You  do  not  comply  with  such  a requi[si]tion  if  this  does 
not  come  too  late  which  I pray  God  it  may  not.  I trust  an 
injuntion  from  me  will  have  its  Weit  intirely.  my  reasons  when 
I am  happy  to  see  you  I will  give  you,  and  if  y[ou]  find  it  a 
requi[si]tion  that  is  submitted  to  by  all  Orders  of  People  you 
need  not  be  backward  to  give  my  desire  as  a reason,  let  it  have 
its  full  weit,  and  if  you  Love  me  in  the  least,  let  the  desire  be 
from  whom  it  may  comply  not.  I have  this  exceedingly  at 
heart  and  trust  you  will  implicitly  oblige  me  in  this  way.  I 
conjure  you  to  do  as  I desire,  for  God  Sake,  dont  think  this  a 

1 This  note  was  sent  to  Pelham  in  Boston  enclosed  in  Mrs.  Copley’s  letter  of 
September  18,  1775.  Upon  the  margin,  Mrs.  Copley  wrote:  “ P.S.  this  letter  is 
dated  the  15  of  July.”  Copley’s  letter  of  the  same  date  to  Mrs.  Copley,  from 
Parma,  is  printed  in  Amory’s  Life  of  John  Singleton  Copley , 60-61.  On  July  22, 
177 5»  Copley  again  wrote  Mrs.  Copley:  — 

“ I would  here  renew  my  instructions  to  Harry  not  to  suffer  himself,  for  any 
person,  or  on  any  account  whatever,  to  take  part  in  the  present  dispute.  I doubt 
not  he  will  comply  with  my  wishes;  my  reasons  are  very  important.”  Ib .,  63.  The 
note  to  Pelham  above  bears  the  postmarks,  “Lu[glio]  29;  Inglitterre;  1/  — .” 


344 


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1 775 


Triffling  thing,  my  reasons  are  very  important,  you  Must 
follow  my  directions  and  be  neuter  at  all  events,  if  I could  say 
more  to  bind  you  I would,  but  I know  this  is  sufficient,  and  1 
depend  upon  you.  Adieu,  my  Dear  Brother,  Adieu,  may  God 
preserve  y[ou].  All  Duty  to  our  Dear  Mother. 

J.  S.  Copley. 

[Addressed :]  To  Mr.  Henry  Pelham  To  the  Care  of  Mr.  Thos 
Bromfield  Mercht  at  the  New  England  Coffee  House,  London 
To  be  forwarded  to  Boston  by  the  first  oppertunity. 

Henry  Pelham  to  Susanna  Copley 1 

Boston,  July  23,  1775. 

My  dear  Madam, 

I should  ill  deserve  that  friendship  and  Regards  with  which 
you  have  hitherto  honour’d  me  and  which  I am  ambitious,  ever 
to  possess,  was  I longer  to  omitt  congratulating  your  departure 
from  this  land  of  Ruin  and  Distress,  and  expressing  my  hopes 
that  long  ere  this  you  are  happylv  arrived  at  a more  friendly 
and  peacefull  shore,  where  I sincerely  pray  you  may  long  enjoy 
every  blessing  that  can  fall  to  the  lot  of  Human  Nature.  You 
had  scarc[e]ly  left  us  before  we  began  to  experience  all  the 
inconveniences  attending  A seige,  and  behold  the  desolations 
ever  consequential  upon  a War.  As  you  have  doubtless  had  the 
perticulars  of  the  destruction  of  property  at  Noddle  Isle,  of  the 
Govenou[r]s  proclimation  declaring  Adams  and  Hancock  with 
their  Abetters  and  aiders  traitors  and  Rebels,  of  the  suspension 
of  all  Civil  Law  and  Courts,  and  the  establishment  of  the 

1 This  draft  was  written  in  red  ink  on  absorbent  paper,  with  corrections  in 
black  ink.  The  letter  actually  sent  was  dated  July  26.  See  Mrs.  Copley  to  Pelham , 
September  18,  1775. 


1775 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


345 


Martial  Law  and  the  important  Battle  and  Victory  at  Charles- 
town and  distinction  of  that  Town,  of  all  which  I had  with  my 
Telescope  a very  perfect,  but  very  malencholly  View,  I shall 
forbear  reciting  an  account  which  cannot  fail  of  renewing  Sen- 
sations which  would  be  painful  to  a mind  as  yours  susceptable 
of  the  finest  feelings  of  Humanity  Benevolence  and  Compassion. 
Its  retrospect  for  a few  Years  back  compared  With  the  present 
Contest  cant  but  be  a matter  of  uncommon  surprize  to  the 
most  inattentive  Observer.  Within  the  few  years  which  indul- 
gent Providence  has  permitted  to  rool  over  my  head,  I well 
remember  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Town  and  adjacent  Country 
put  into  the  greatest  consternation  and  uneasiness  upon  a 
vague  report  of  the  approach  of  a small  Army  of  French,  and 
this  at  a time  too  when  they  had  added  to  their  own  Strength 
the  Victorious  Arms  of  the  most  powerfull  Nation  in  Europe 
Drawn  in  their  Defence.  Now  we  see  this  very  Country  arming 
themselves  and  unsupported  by  any  foreign  Power  ungener- 
ously Waging  War  against  their  great  Benefactors,  and  en- 
deavouring to  Ruin  that  State  to  whom  they  owe  their  being, 
Whose  Justice  and  Gennerosity  has  fostered  them  to  the[i]r  late 
flourishing  and  Happy  Condition,  and  whose  arms  has  protected 
them  in  the  uninterupted  Enjoyment  of  all  the  blessings  of  Peace. 

We  are  at  present  invested  by  an  army  of  about  14000  Men, 
whose  almost  Continual  Firing  of  Shot  has  in  a gr[ea]t  degree 
reconciled  us  to  Noise  of  Cannon;  and  we  are  daily  spectators 
of  the  Operations  of  War.  since  the  last  Vessel  sailed  from  this 
500  Men  in  whale  boats  attacked  and,  I am  sorry  to  say  it, 
within  sight  of  the  British  Flag,  carried  of  from  long  Island  just 
below  the  Castle  13  Men,  who  had  fled  to  this  Town  from  the 
Country  and  Miss  Lydia  Ward,  Doct’r  Perkin’s  Neice,  who 
was  there  for  her  Health,  they  have  not  since  been  hea[r]d  off. 


34-6 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1775 


likewise  a Number  of  sheep  and  cattle,  and  returned  the  next 
day  and  burnt  all  the  buildings  with  a Quantity  of  Hay.  A few 
days  ago  they  distroyed  the  light  House  at  Noonday,  with  in  a 
quarter  of  a Mile  of  a Man  of  War.1 

I with  pleasure  inform  you  that  your  Friends  here  are  as 
happy  if  not  more  so  than  could  be  expected  considering  the 
narrow  limmitts  to  which  we  are  confined,  and  our  being  en- 
tirely cutt  off  from  all  supplies,  except  what  our  Friends  in 
Europe  will  let  us  have. 

I was  in  hopes  I should  have  had  the  Happyness  of  seeing  you 
in  England  this  fall,  but  now  give  over  all  thoughts  of  it,  as 
I cant  at  present  prevail  upon  My  honoured  Mother  to 
undertake  the  Voyage,  and  should  be  very  unneasy  at  leaving 
her  during  this  scene  of  Confusion.  Your  Son  is  a fine  boy  in 
goo[d]  Health.  My  buisness  is  entir[e]ly  ceased.  I have  not 
now  a single  day’s  buisness.  But  to  fill  up  time  I have  begun  a 
Survey  of  Charlestown,  for  which  I have  permission  from 
Gen’l  Gage  and  Gen’l  Howe,  who  were  polite  eno  to  grant  me 
a general  Pass  directed  to  all  Officers  commanding  Guards  for 
going  to  and  returning  from  Charlestown.  Gen’l  How[e],  to 
assist  me  in  the  laborious  part  of  Measuring,  has  kindly  put  a 
Sarjant  and  his2  Men  under  my  Comm[an]d.  This  Plan  when 
finished  will  give  a good  Idea3  of  the  late  battle  and  I propose 
sending  Home  a Coppy  to  be  engraved,  together  with  a View 
of  it  as  it  appears  in  its  present  Ruins,  with  the  encampment  on 
the  Hills  behind  it.  I have  often  passed  Doct  Warren’s  Grave. 
I felt  a disagreab[le]  Sensation,  thus  to  see  a Townsman  an  old 
Acquaintance  led  by  unbounded  Ambition  to  an  untimely 

1 See  Mass.  Hist.  Soc.  Proceedings , xiv.  290. 

2 Possibly  “two”,  or  “ten”;  but  probably  “two”  changed  to  “his.” 

3 Possibly  “ view.” 


1 \ 


1775 


347 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 

death  and  thus  early  to  realise  that  Ruin  which  a lust  of  Power 
and  Dominion  has  brought  upon  himself  and  partly  through  his 
means  upon  this  unhappy  Country.  I would  wish  to  forget  his 
principles  to  Lament  his  Fate.  I almost  forgot  to  tell  you  that 
Mr.  T.  Mifflin  of  Philadela  is  aid  de  Camp  to  Gen’l  Lee,  and 
that  the  Continental  Congress  have  taken  the  entire  direction 
of  the  War,  have  erected  themselves  into  an  Independant  body, 
are  addressed  by  the  title  of  Excellenceys  and  call  themselfs 
the  states  General  of  the  united  american  provinces,  and  this 
Army  the  grand  Confederate  Army.  They  have  appointed  Mr. 
Washington  of  Virginia  Lieutenant  Gen’l,  and  Ward,  Putnam, 
and  Lee  Major  Gen’ls.  they  are  all  now  at  Cambridge.  They 
have  been  very  industrious  in  constructing  fortifications  all 
round  this  Town,  and  it  is  said  as  far  back  as  Worcester.  What 
the  Result  of  this  Contest  will  be  God  only  knows.  I have  not 
heard  a Word  of  Brother  Pelham  since  you  left  us.  I wonder 
much  at  not  having  a single  line  from  Brother  Copley  since  one 
dated  the  26th  of  last  Sept.,  now  near  a twelve  month.  Mrs. 
Cordis,  Capt.  Ruggles’  Neice  and  a near  Neighbour  at  Chun,1 
whom  you  have  some  knowledge  off,  obligeingly  promises  to 
deliver  you  this.  My  hon’d  Mamma  desires  her  kindest  Love 
and  Blessing  to  you,  My  dear  Brother  and  my  little  amiable 
and  lov[e]ly  Friends.  Accept  my  Love  and  best  Wishes  which 
ever  atte[nd]  you  and  them,  and  beleive  [me]  sincerely  Dear 
Madam  your  very  affectionate  Brother  and  Humblfe]  Servant. 

[Unsigned.] 

P.S  we  are  extremly  anxious  to  hear  from  you,  mu[s]t  beg  of 
you  to  write  often.  I much  wish  to  know  where  My  brother  is. 

1 Charlestown  ? Probably  Rebecca  Russell,  wife  of  Joseph  Cordis,  of  Charles- 
town is  intended. 


34§ 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


1 775 


Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

Parma,  the  6 of  Augst.,  1775. 

My  dear  Brother, 

My  principal  design  in  writing  to  you  at  this  time  is  to  give 
you  my  oppinion  and  advice  relitive  to  your  present  unhappy 
situation,  which  although  you  have  had  in  other  Letters,  for  I 
have  wrote  to  you  two  or  threje]  times  lately  on  the  subject, 
yet  not  in  so  full  and  possitive  a manner  as  I now  think  it  best 
to  do.  The  flame  of  Civil  War  is  now  broke  out  in  America, 
and  I have  not  the  least  doubt  it  will  rage  with  a Violence  equil 
to  what  it  has  ever  done  in  any  other  Country  at  any  time. 
You  are  sensable  also  by  this  time  of  the  determin’d  Resolu- 
tions of  Government  to  persevere  in  Vigorous  measures,  and 
what  will  keep  them  firm  in  this  determination,  is  that  they 
Act  as  (at  least)  4-fifths  of  the  people  would  have  them,  they 
so  Resent  the  outrage  offered  to  them  in  the  destruction  of  the 
Tea.  you  must  think  I aught  to  have  many  friends  and  thanks 
for  the  pains  I took  to  prevent  so  violent  and  rash  a peice  of 
conduct.  I was  sure  it  wTould  produce  the  consiquences  that 
have  followed  and  are  only  the  faint  beginings  of  More  fatal 
and  terrable  evils  than  have  yet  taken  place.  You  must  also 
know  I think  that  the  people  have  gone  too  far  to  retract  and 
that  they  will  adopt  the  proverb,  which  says,  when  the  Sword 
of  Rebellion  is  Drawn  the  Sheath  should  be  thrown  away;  and 
the  Americans  have  it  in  their  power  to  baffle  all  that  England 
can  do  against  them.  I dont  mean  to  ward  off  the  evils  attend- 
ant on  Civil  War,  but  so  far  as  never  to  be  subdued,  so  that 
Ocians  of  blood  will  be  shed  to  humble  a people  which  they 
never  will  subdue,  and  the  Americans  from  the  Id[ea]  that 
England  would  not  act  against  them  have  tempted  its  Power 


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>775 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


349 


to  the  extreem  and  dr[awn]  all  its  weight  [of]  rage  upon  them, 
and  after  they  have  with  various  success  deludged  the  Country 
in  Blood  the  Issue  will  be  that  the  Americans  will  be  a free 
independant  people,  this  may  be  the  result  of  a Struggle  of 
many  years.  Thus  I have  Stated  what  appears  to  me  to  be  the 
natural  course  of  the  present  contest,  and  in  its  course  the 
different  Towns  will  have  at  different  times  to  incounter  all  the 
miserys  of  War,  Sword,  famin,  and  perhaps  pestalence,  as  that 
is  generally  an  attendant  on  War  and  so  is  famin.  I now  would 
ask  our  Dear  Mother  by  you,  weither  a month’s  Voyage  is  by 
any  means  an  evil  to  be  compaired  to  the  evils  above  men- 
shoned?  if  not,  why  she  will  hisitate  one  moment.  I am  sur- 
prized she  did  not  come  with  Your  Sister,  by  your  Letter  you 
seemed  determined,  but  I write  this  lest  my  Dear  Mother 
should  still  deliberate,  you  are  to  consider  if  things  should 
come  to  that  extremity  that  would  fix  her  determination,  it 
may  be  out  of  her  power  than  to  leave  the  place.  I shall  be  very 
glad  to  find  you  have  imbarked,  but  if  it  should  be  otherways, 
I think  you  must  prevail  with  our  Mother  to  come;  but  when 
this  reaches  you  it  will  be  late,  perhaps  Octr.,  whereas  the 
latter  end  of  May  or  the  begining  of  June  is  the  time  to  have 
short  and  smooth  passages,  at  the  same  time,  however,  it  may 
be  that  even  a January  passage  would  be  more  eligiable  than 
to  stay  in  Boston,  this  you  will  Judge  best  of  yourself,  you 
can  have  no  Idea  of  my  Anxiety  for  you  while  you  remain  in 
that  place.  I therefore  request  you  will  bring  Our  hond.  Mother, 
and  beleive  me  Yours  Affect’y 

J.  S.  Copley. 

Give  my  Affectionate  love  and  Duty  to  all  friends,  perticu- 
larly  My  Dear  Mother  and  let  me  expect  to  see  her  in  England 
as  soon  as  pos sable. 


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I77S 


Johnson  to  Henry  Pelham 

0 [i77S-?] 

blR, 

I have  seen  Mr.  Robertson  the  Engeneer,  who  Consents  to 
show  you  his  draughts  of  ours  and  the  enemys  Works.  If  you  ’ll 
be  so  good  to  perfect  the  draught  you  are  makeing  of  this  town 
and  the  enverons  and  insert  these  in  it,  before  the  Admiral 
Sails,  youl  oblige  me  by  letting  me  have  the  draught. 

If  you  call  at  Capt  Robertson’s  tomorrow  morning  early 
youl  find  him  at  home,  he  lives  in  the  Street  where  Mr. 
Hallowell  the  Commissioner  dwells,1  ten  or  twelve  houses  nearer 
Concert  hall 2 on  the  other  side  of  the  Street.  I am,  Sir,  your 
obt.  Servt. 

James[?]  Johnson. 

[Addressed :]  To  Mr.  Pelham  New  Boston. 


Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 

Boston,  August  19,  1774  [1775]. 

My  Dear  Brother, 

It  was  my  intention  to  have  wrote  you  a long  Letter  to  have 
accompanyed  a plan  which  I have  almost  this  moment  finished, 
proposing  to  have  exhibited  to  the  Publick  as  perfect  an  Idea 
as  was  possable  upon  Paper  of  the  late  most  important  and 
glorious  action,  which  I was  an  anxious  Spectator  of,  and  to 
which  under  God  I attribute  my  present  capacity  for  writing, 
and  I hope  will  be  our  future  security. 

1 Benjamin  Hallowell  occupied  land  on  Hanover  Street  which  was  sold 
under  the  confiscation  act  and  later  became  the  property  of  the  Hanover 
Street  Church. 

2 Concert  Hall  was  at  the  corner  of  Hanover  and  Queen  (Court)  Street. 


1775 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


35  1 


I was  disapointed  in  my  expectations,  this  morning  upon 
waiting  on  Gen’l  Gage,  he  acquainted  me  that  it  would  not  be 
altogether  proper  to  publish  a plan  of  Charlestown  in  its  present 
state,  as  it  would  furnish  those  without  with  a knowledge  of  the 
fortification^]  erected  there  and  in  a polite  manner  desired  I 
would  postpone  the  sending  it  at  present.  Mrs.  Copley  desired 
we  would  write  word  when  we  met  with  fresh  Meat.  You  will 
form  some  Idea  of  our  present  disagreable  Situation  when  I tell 
you  that  last  Monday,  I eat  at  Gen’l  Howe’s  Table  at  Charles^ 
town  Camp,  the  only  bit  of  fresh  Meat  I have  tasted  for  very 
near  four  Months  past.  And  then  not  with  a good  Conscience, 
considering  the  many  Persons  who  in  sickness  are  wanting  that 
and  most  of  the  Convenencyfs]  of  Life.  The  usual  pleas  now 
made  by  those  who  beg  a little  Bacon  or  Saltfish  is  that  its  for  a 
sick  person. 

Mr.  Clarke  says  he  has  inclosed  you  Copies  of  some  late 
intercepted  Letters,  by  them  you  will  find  what  those  who  stile 
themselves  patriots  are  after,  and  where  there  Schems  will  drive 
us.  Independency  [is]  what  alone  will  content  those  who  have 
insinuated  themselves  into  the  good  Opinion  of  (generally 
speaking)  a well  meaning  but  credulous  people.  Upon  the  sup- 
position that  this  Country  was  totally  independent  on  the 
Parent  State,  in  the  Name  of  Common  Sence  what  one  advan- 
tage could  accrue?  Should  we  be  free  from  Taxes?  We  know 
we  could  not  support  a goverment  for  ten  times  the  expence. 
Should  we  be  Safer  from  forreign  insults  ? Reason  tells  us  that 
we  should  be  exposed  to  every  Inconven[ien]ce  that  a defence- 
less and  impoverish’d  People  ever  experienced.  Would  our 
internal  Peace  and  Happyness  be  greater?  Here  alass ! We  may 
look  back  to  those  Days  of  Felicity  and  Peace  which  we  enjoyed 
under  the  fostering  Care  and  indulgent  Protection  of  Britain, 


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I77S 


and  contemplate  ourselves  as  having  once  been  the  happiest 
people  in  the  Empire;  and  on  this  View  I am  sure  every  un- 
prejudiced Person  will  execrate  those  distinctive  Schems,  and 
that  unbounded  Ambition  whi[c]h  from  the  pinacle  of  Ease 
has  plunged  us  into  the  depths  of  Distress  and  Ruin.  Judge 
Sewail,1  who  kindly  takes  the  Care  of  this,  just  setting  out  on 
his  Voyage  obliges  me  to  conclude  abruptly  acquaint’g  you 
that  we  are  all  as  Well  as  the  times  will  permitt.  with  wishing 
My  dear  Sister  and  family  ever[y]  possable  felicity,  I am,  my 
dearest  Brother,  your 

[Unsigned.] 

P.  S.  I write  this  in  your  house  in  the  Common  where  the 
Company  unite  with  me  in  good  Wishes.  Our  hon’d  Mam[ma] 
desires  her  kind  Love  to  you  all.  I must  beg  when  you  write 
me,  to  be  carefull  what  you  say,  as  all  letterfs]  that  come  into 
the[i]r  hands  are  prise.  I beleive  there  is  one  or  more  of  your 
Letters  at  Cambridge.  I almost  hope  ther[e]  is,  as  I should  be 
grieved  to  find  you  had  not  wrote  to  me.  when  you  write  send 
your  letters  [di]rectly  to  this  Place. 

Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

Parma,  Augst  22d.,  1775. 

My  Dear  Brother, 

I take  this  oppertunity  to  write  to  you,  although  I dont  know 
weither  you  are  still  in  America  or  on  your  Voyage  to  England, 
if  you  are  in  Boston  I am  sensable  you  must  want  every  conso- 
lation that  can  be  affoard’d  you  in  so  unhappy  a situation,  this 
induces  me  to  address  you  at  this  time,  that  you  may  have  the 
small  comfort  my  letters  can  affoard  you,  which  is  all  that  is 

1 Jonathan  Sewail,  Attorney-General  of  Massachusetts. 


i77S  Copley -Pelham  Letters  353 

in  my  power  while  you  remain  in  that  unhappy  place.  I really 
hope  to  hear  of  your  safe  arrival  in  England  with  our  Dear 
Mother.  I cannot  but  be  very  thankfull  to  that  beneficient 
being  for  all  his  mercy  to  me  through  life,  but  in  a very  perticu- 
lar  maner  for  the  course  of  my  affairs  (which  has  removed  me 
from  that  place  of  distress  just  at  the  time  it  did),  being  so 
overuled  as  to  have  preserved  me  from  much  distress  anxiety 
and  dificulty ; and  I trust  that,  although  I may  by  this  unhappy 
struggle  be  reduced  to  a state  of  poverty,  I shall  have  my 
health  and  meet  with  that  incouragement  in  England  which 
will  enable  me  to  provide  for  my  family,  and  in  a decent  man- 
ner bring  these  Dear  Children  up  which  God  has  blessed  me 
with.  I am  just  now  on  the  point  of  finishing  my  Tour,  which 
I should  have  found  it  very  dificult  to  have  taken  if  I had  stayd 
in  America  longer  than  I did,  and  if  I had  left  it  sooner,  it 
would  have  been  doing  more  violence  boath  to  myself  and  Dear 
Wife  to  have  fix’d  in  England,  but  now  there  is  no  choice  left; 
and  my  business  is  so  near  accomplish’d  that  my  family  could 
not  have  done  better  than  to  have  come  to  England  when  they 
did.  how  short  a way  do  we  penetrate  into  the  secrets  of  Futu- 
rity! did  you  think  when  I left  Boston  such  a sceene  would 
have  taken  Place?  tljat  I was  leaving  so  much  distress?  and 
that  my  choice  was  so  undoubtedly  the  most  eligiable?  and 
what  ere  long  I should  have  been  obliged  to  have  adopted? 
and  than  it  would  have  been  to  a much  greater  disadvantage. 
I now  have  the  hope  that  my  happiness  will  be  made  still  more 
compleat  by  meeting  you  and  my  dear  mother  in  England.  I 
shall  (if  it  pleases  God  to  spare  my  life)  be  there  in  Octr.,  as  I 
am  near  done  in  this  place,  and  shall  make  the  best  of  my  way 
there  as  soon  as  I have  finished  my  Copy  of  the  Corregio, 
which  I am  about  at  this  time. 


354 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


*775 


Here  you  will  wish  (if  your  troubles  do  not  ingage  your 
thoughts  to  other  things  that  more  nearly  concern  life)  to  have 
a very  perticular  Account  of  this  Picture;  but  as  I expect  to  see 
you  when  I get  to  London,  I shall  suspend  my  remarks  on  it 
till  I see  you ; or  if  my  expectations  are  not  fulfilled,  than  I will 
send  them  to  you  in  wrighting,  with  my  process  in  making  the 
Copy  and  an  account  of  the  Copy,  in  the  mean  time,  let  not 
your  Spirits  be  the  least  dejected,  for  as  we  cannot  perceive 
what  is  before  us,  weither  it  is  good  or  evil,  so  we  aught  to 
resolve  all  into  an  intire  submission  to  the  dispensations  of 
providence,  after  we  have  done  all  in  our  own  power,  this  we 
should  be  carefull  to  do,  and  by  pursuing  our  duty  we  shall 
always  feel  an  happiness  within  ourselves  that  the  World  cannot 
rob  us  of.  We  even  should  not  entertain  a doubt  of  the  good- 
ness of  God  to  us,  even  to  the  blessing  us  in  this  life  with  what  is 
good  and  comfortable,  you  are  now  young  and  a sufferer  with 
the  multitude;  but  now  let  me  ask  you  if  you  are  so  great  a 
sufferer  as  I am?  yet  I am  not  dejected  in  the  least,  and  was 
not  my  impatience  to  get  to  England  greater  than  I can  express, 
and  my  anxiety  for  you  and  my  other  friends  in  America  very 
distressing  to  me,  I say  was  it  not  for  these  considerations,  I 
could  say  my  spirits  were  never  better  than  at  this  time,  yet  I 
have  lost  perhaps  my  all,  as  you  have;  but  I have  a family,  you 
are  single;  you  are  much  younger  too.  these  are  things  that 
throws  the  balance  much  in  your  favour,  very  much  in  your 
favour,  aught  you  than  to  be  over  ancious  ? in  your  last  Letter 
by  your  Sister  from  two  Incidents  you  drew  a very  just  conclu- 
tion,  and  I would  have  you  never  lose  sight  of  it.  you  may  say 
perhaps  that  my  prospects  in  England  gives  me  an  advantage 
above  you,  but  dont  think  that,  for  if  I am  successfull  there  you 
will  be  a sharer  of  it;  and  I assure  you  your  own  Works  have  as 


1775 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


355 


much  merrit  in  them  as  most  of  the  Artists  of  your  Standing, 
and  much  more  than  three  quarters  of  them,  even  those  who 
have  Study ’d  in  Italy  don’t  in  general  produce  better  things 
than  you  are  capable  of  produceing.  go  on  with  your  Studys, 
and  let  those  fight  that  chuse  to  fight,  at  all  events  do  somthing 
for  the  exibition  the  next  year,  send  it  to  me.  if  it  is  what  I 
could  wish,  it  shall  have  a place;  if  not,  I will  not  expose  it.  not 
that  I doubt  of  your  abillity  to  [do]  it  well,  but  I would  have 
somthing  that  should  make  some  figure,  that  should  be  singled 
out  among  the  others,  and  should  prefer  delaying  a year  or  two 
rather  than  be  undistinguishd  in  the  Crowd;  and  it  generally 
happens  that  those  are  overloo[ke]d  that  have  not  somthing  to 
distinguish  them  more  than  the  bare  merrit  of  the  exicution. 
beauty  for  instance,  if  it  is  singular,  it  will  with  good  exicution 
draw  the  attention  of  the  publick.  that  I was  singularly  happy 
in  in  my  first  exibition.  if  I can  think  of  any  thing  within  your 
reach,  I mean  as  to  a model,  I will  menshon  it  in  my  next,  and 
wish  you  to  do  somthing,  if  you  still  stay  in  America;  but  I 
shall  be  greatly  disappointed  if  you  do  not  prevail  with  our 
dear  Mother  to  leave  it. 

I propose  going  from  this  to  Venice  and  through  the  Tirole, 
Germany,  and  Flanders,  which  is  the  shortest  way  to  England 
and  a different  Rout  from  that  I took  in  coming  to  Italy.  I 
shall  not  return  to  Parris  as  I intended,  When  I gave  my  perticu- 
lar  rout  in  a former  Letter  to  your  Sister,  because  that  would 
be  going  out  of  my  Way.  do  continue  to  send  me  the  perticulars 
of  the  proceedings  from  America.  I am  uneasy  for  our  Brother 
Pelham  and  Family.  I am  also  apprehensive  that  in  the  Winter, 
if  the  Frost  should  be  severe  and  the  Harbour  froze,  that  the 
Town  of  Boston  will  be  exposed  to  an  attack;  and  if  it  should 
be  taken  all  that  have  remained  in  the  town  will  be  consider’d 


35^ 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1775 


as  enimys  to  the  Country  and  ill  treated  or  exposed  to  great 
distress;  for  I think  the  King’s  ships  [are]  what  at  present 
secures  the  town  from  assalt;  but  when  they  are  lockd  up  in 
Ice,  the  Provincials  may  find  means  to  set  them  on  fire,  and  will 
surely  do  it,  if  it  is  a possable  thing,  which  I think  it  is.  And 
than  how  will  it  be  possable  for  the  army  to  defend  a Town, 
exposed  as  that  will  be  from  every  side  to  be  penetrated  ? I pray 
God  to  keep  and  preserve  you  all  from  any  additional  callam- 
itys ; but  I have  a thousand  fears  continually  crouding  into  my 
mind,  give  my  most  effectionate  Love  and  Duty  to  my  Dear 
Mother,  to  My  Father,  Brothers,  Sisters,  Uncles,  Aunts,  and 
all  Friends,  and  beleive  me,  Dear  Harry,  your  most  Affection- 
ate Brother, 

John  Singleton  Copley. 

A Plan  of  Charlestown 

A Plan  of  Charlestown  in  New  England,  with  part  of  Boston  &c. 
exhibiting  the  Redoubt  stormed  June  1775,  with  the  Works,  since 
erected  by  his  Majestys  Troops.  Surveyed  and  Drawn  with  the 
General’s  permission  by  Henry  Pelham. 

August,  1775. 

Proposed  Dedication 

• To  the  Honorable  Major  General  Howe  — 

Animated  by  whose  Conduct  and  Valour  the  national  Ardour 
and  Bravery  of  two  thousand  British  Officers  and  Soldiers, 
after  having  been  obstructed  in  their  march  by  a Number  of 
Rail  Fences  and  flanked  by  a hot  fire  from  dwelling  Houses, 
gained  a Victory  On  the  Heights  of  Charles-Town,  June  17, 
1775,  over  the  Enthusiasm  of  above  four  Thousand  Rebels  who 
were  entrenched  in  a strong  Rtedoubjt1  Mounted  with  Cannon, 

1 The  letters  in  brackets  have  been  erased. 


1775 


357 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 

defended  by  an  extensive  Breast  Work  and  concealed  behind 
a close  prepared  Hedge  supported  with  Cannon  also; 

This  View  of  the  Scene  of  Action  is  respectfully  inscribed  by 
his  most  Obedient 

Humble  Servant.1 

Mrs.  Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

Islington,  September  [t]he  18,  1775. 

Dear  Brother, 

I have  Long  been  looking  out  for  an  oppertunity  to  forward 
Letters  I have  receive’d  from  your  Brother  and  my  Dear 
Husband.  I am  out  of  the  way  of  knowing  when  the  Transports 
Sail.  I was  much  disapointed  to  find  Mr.  Huges  had  saild  for 
Boston,  that  I mist  the  oppertunity  of  letting  my  Friends  hear 
from  me,  as  I had  letters  wrote  and  did  not  know  of  the  Vessel 
Sailing,  you  will  see  Mr.  Copley’s  great  anxieaty  to  prevail  on 
our  Mama  to  leave  America.  I was  much  disapointed  to  find 
by  your  kind  Letter  of  the  26  of  July,  that  you  had  giveen  over 
all  thoughts  of  comeing  to  England  this  fall.  I have  been  look- 
ing out  for  you  every  arival  till  My  Papa’s  Letter  of  the  18  of 

July,  which  inform’d  me  your  Mama  could  not  detirmin  to 

* 

come,  you  can  have  no  Idea  of  My  distress  for  my  Friends  in 
Boston,  the. accounts  we  continuly  have  are  so  distressing, 
that  I am  supprised  that  our  Mama  or  any  that  can  leave 
America  should  hesitate  one  moment  about  it.  could  I add  any 
Arguments  to  Mr.  Copley  more  persuasive  I should  not  be 
wanting,  but  would  beg  lea[ve]  to  tell  our  Mama  through  you 

1 This  plan  was  afterwards  embodied  in  a large  map  of  Boston  and  the 
surrounding  country,  well  known  for  its  execution.  It  was  published  in  Lon- 
don, June  2,  1777,  and,  doubtless  for  political  reasons,  was  dedicated  to  Lord 
George  Germain. 


3 5 8 Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1775 


that  I should  be  happy  to  have  in  my  power  to  contribute  to 
her  comfort,  for  I think  we  are  so  made  for  each  outher  that 
we  cannot  be  happy  when  we  have  reason  to  think  our  Friends 
are  exposed  to  distress,  my  distance  is  great,  but  my  Thoughts 
are  most  continuly  in  the  circle  of  my  Friends.  I think  how 
happy  should  I be  to  be  able  to  administer  any  Balm  to  heal  the 
wou[n]ds  of  there  distress,  but  hope  you  and  the  rest  of  them 
will  indeavour  to  keep  up  your  Spirits,  for  the  greater  our 
trials  are  the  greater  cause  have  we  to  exert  all  our  resolution 
and  fortitude.  I have  often  thought  with  pleasure  on  some 
Sermons  Mr.  Parker  preached  not  long  before  I left  Boston, 
from  these  words:  The  Lord  Raineth.  the  great  uncertainty 
where  my  Friends  would  be  has  prevented  my  writing  to  them 
so  frequently  as  I should  outher  wise  have  don.  for  I should  be 
loath  to  have  my  Letters  read  in  Congress,  for  I should  not 
expect  so  much  cander  as  I hope  for  from  my  Friends.  I am 
daly  hopeing  to  hear  of  my  Papa’s  ditermination  to  leave 
Boston,  and  Brother  and  Sister  Bromfield.  a report  has  pre- 
vail’d here  for  some  time  that  the  Troops  are  to  remove  from 
Boston  to  some  outher  place;  but  there  is  no  depending  uppon 
common  report,  we  hear  Captain  Robertson  is  arived  in  the 
Downs  in  24  Days  from  Boston,  and  that  Mrs.  Gage  is  come 
with  him.  I am  in  continual  expecttation  of  hearing  from  my 
Friends,  and  please  my  Self  I shall  hear  of  there  ditermination 
to  Leave  America,  as  it  appears  as  if  the  troubles  would  daly 
increase,  the  last  accounts  I have  from  Mr.  Copley  is  the  5 of 
this  Month,  he  tells  me  he  expects  to  be  in  England  in  Octor. 
you  will  find  you[r]  Letters  where  [were]  wrote  on  the  same 
Sheet  with  mine.  Some  of  them  where  by  private  hands  so  that 
they  have  arive’d  about  the  same  time,  in  His  last  he  says  he 
expects  to  Meet  you  and  his  Mama  here  when  he  arives. 


1775 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


359 


Scence  I have  been  in  England  I have  been  in  Mr.  Bromfields 
Family,  where  I have  Meet  with  the  greatest  frindship,  and 
should  have  been  very  happy,  was  it  not  for  my  great  uneasy- 
ness  for  my  absent  Friends,  as  to  England  you  must  not  expect 
from  me  any  accoufnt]  of  it  at  present,  for  my  thoughts  are  so 
intent  uppon  America  that  at  times  I can  scarcely  realize  my 
Self  to  be  out  of  it.  I have  not  had  the  least  inclination  to 
Vissit  any  of  the  publick  places  of  Entertainment,  you  will 
think  me  much  wanting  in  taste,  but  I expect  a double  pleasure 
in  seeing  what  may  fall  to  my  lot,  when  Mr.  Copley  returns. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  West’s  Servilitys  called  me  to  return  a Visit  to 
them.  I was  much  entertained  with  his  works,  which  are  very 
great  and  must  have  cost  him  much  Study  and  labor.  I shall 
omit  giveing  you  any  particuler  account,  as  I hope  before  long 
you  will  have  an  oppertunity  of  Viewing  them  your  Self,  the 
Americans  -Muster  very  thick  in  England.  Mr.  Vassall  and 
Family,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Brattel,  Mr.  Geair,1  arive’d  here  last 
week;  and  we  hear  Captain  Foldger  is  to  bring  a Hundred 
passengers,  but  cannot  learn  who  they  are.  I shall  be  happy  to 
have  my  Friends  amongst  the  Number.  I hope  to  find  our 
Mama  and  you  have  altered  your  resolution. 

[Sept.]  21  Scence  vfriteing  the  above,  I have  receiv’d  your 
Letter  of  the  19  of  Aut : to  Mr.  Copley,  with  one  from  my  Papa 
and  Sister  Lucy,  every  account  increases  my  distress.  I pray 
Heaven  to  prepair  me  for  all  events.  I am  much  disapointed  to 
find  my  Friends  had  not  ditermind  to  leave  a Country  which  is 
involved  in  the  greatest  Miserys,  but  think  before  this  they 
must  have  ditermind  to  leave  it.  I have  not  the  least  Thought 
that  this  Letter  will  meet  you  or  any  of  my  Friends  in  Boston. 
I pray  God  to  direct  you  to  those  Measures  which  will  be  for 

1 Geyer. 


36° 


Copley-Pelham  Letters 


1 77  5 


your  Safty.  I am  very  anxious  for  my  poor  Babe,  but  am 
happy  it  is  under  the  care  of  those  who  will  do  the  best  for  it. 
I desire  to  be  resind  to  the  all  wise  will  of  the  great  disposeer  of 
all  things,  neither  to  dispise  his  chastenings,  nor  to  faint  when 
I am  rebuke’d  of  him. 

Through  the  goodness  of  God  there  has  been  a plentifull 
Hearvest  in  England,  and  every  kind  of  thing  that  can  be  sent, 
will  be,  to  the  releaf  of  those  who  are  sufering  in  a Land  of 
plenty  for  want  of  the  comforts  of  Life. 

Should  this  meet  you  and  any  of  my  Friends  with  you,  please 
to  remember  me  to  them  with  tender  Affection,  and  let  them 
know  that  my  self  and  Children  are  well.  Should  I find  they 
remain  in  America,  which  I much  hope  they  will  not,  I shall 
write  to  them  soon,  pray  present  my  Duty  to  our  Mama,  and 
except  of  my  best  wishes  for  your  Happyness,  and  beleave  me 
to  be  your  Affectinate  Sister 

Susanna  Copley. 

P S the  inclosed  letters  are  all  I have  received  from  Mr. 
Copley  scence  my  arival.  he  mentions  haveing  Sent  a large 
packet  by  Mr.  Izard,  but  I have  not  seen  it. 

Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 

Boston,  Octr.  io,  1775. 

My  dear  Brother, 

The  Secretary’s  politeness  affords  me  an  Oppertunity  of 
writing  a few  Lines,  which  I hope  will  meet  you  happyly  situated 
agreable  to  your  most  sanguine  Wishes  once  more  in  London. 
Every  Day  affords  fresh  instances  and  adds  distressing  con- 
firmation of  the  inconstancy  of  Fortune,  of  the  uncertainty  of 
Life,  and  the  Vanity  of  all  worldly  prospects.  The  variagated 
Callamities  with  which  this  life  is  checkered,  forces  the  mind 


1775 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


361 


to  look  forward  to  another  and  teaches  us  to  adore  that 
Almighty  Being,  whose  unbounded  Goodness  assures  us  of  an 
happy  Immortallity,  being  the  certain  Reward  of  a Life  of 
integrity  and  Virtue.  The  distressing  Circumstances  of  this 
Country;  The  perticular  Situation  I am  now  in,  The  Abscence 
of  many  very  worthy  and  dear  Friends,  and  the  diminution  by 
Death  of  the  very  few  that  remaind,  make  me  feel  very  unhappy. 
The  recent  and  unexpected  Death  of  Miss  Lucy  Clarke,  is  what 
I much  deplore,  as  she  was  a very  valuable  and  worthy  Friend, 
whose  conversation  I always  found  as  sensible,  as  her  Behaviour 
was  polite  and  Friendly:  I most  sincerely  condole  with  you  and 
Mrs.  Copley  upon  this  Event.  Her  real  worth,  Benevolence 
and  Piety,  as  they  attracted  the  Respect  and  Esteem  of  her 
Friends  while  Living,  will  ever  endear  her  Memory  to  them 
now  Dead.  I have  lost  another  very  agreable  Acquaintance  in 
young  Lady  Pepperell,  who  died  this  Morng  of  a Bilious  Fever, 
after  a severe  illness  of  3 Weeks.1  I find  myself  extreemly  per- 
plexed. I am  entirely  at  a loss  to  know  what  to  Do.  The  Total 
Stoppage  of  Buisness  forbids  ny  remaining  here,  and  how  to 
leave  the  place  I dont  know.  My  hon’d  Mother  not  inclining 
to  undertake  a Voyage  and  to  leave  her  in  so  very  disagreable  a 
Situation  would  make  me  very  uneasy.  I now  much  want  your 
advice,  but  the  Distance  precludes  me  that  advantage.  I am 
unfortunate  in  having  but  few  friends  here  who  are  sufficiently 
informed  to  give  me  that  advice  which  would  regulate  my 
Motions.  It  is  now  a twelve  month  since  I have  done  any 
Buisness  worth  nameing.  What  Money  I had  oweing  to  me  I 
cant  get  a farthing  off,  and  what  Buisness  I had  in  hand  the 
Cruelty  of  the  times  has  rendered  unprofitable. 

1 Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Isaac  Royall.  Stark,  Loyalists  of  Massachusetts , 208, 
states  that  she  died  on  the  passage  to  London. 


362 


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1 77  5 


It  requires  the  full  exertion  of  all  my  Philosophy,  to  support 
my  Spirits  under  the  many  Disapointments  I have  experienced 
for  near  two  Years  past.  I then  fondly  flattered  myself  (from 
my  Buisness  which  at  that  time  began  to  increase)  that  I 
should  be  enabled  at  some  future  Period,  to  avow  with  Repu- 
tation and  Propriety,  a tender  attachment  for  one  of  the  most 
lovely  and  amiable  of  my  Female  Friends.  An  Honorable  and 
sincere  Affection  for  female  Virtue  and  Accomplishments  is 
what  never  can  justly  raise  a Blush  in  any  Face.  Sure  I am 
you’ll  think  it  need  not  in  mine,  when  I mention  Miss  Sally 
Bromfleld  as  the  Object  of  my  highest  Esteem  and  Regard.1 

As  it  was  ever  my  intention  to  act  agreable  to  the  strictest 
Rules  of  Justice  and  Honour,  I have  hitherto  kept  this  a Secret 
in  my  own  Breast,  thinking  it  totally  unbecoming  a generous 
Mind,  under  such  circumstances  as  mine,  to  disturb  a Lady’s 
repose  by  soliciting  a Return  of  that  Regard  and  attention 
which  my  present  situation  forbids  me  to  expect.  To  a Broth- 
er’s sympathiszing  Friendship  do  I now  first  trust  this  Secret 
of  my  Soul.  I should  not  now  have  done  it  had  I not  wanted 
that  advice  which  your  good  Judgement  and  knowledge  of  the 
World  so  well  quallifies  you  to  give,  and  the  many  and  Contin- 
ued Marks  I have  experienced  of  your  kindness  and  disinter- 
ested Friendship,  prompts  me  to  ask.  The  Confusions  which 
commenced  upon  the  fatal  Era  of  the  Tea’s  arrival,  at  once 
blasted  all  my  fondest  hopes.  I at  once  saw  all  my  prospects 
vanish,  and  then  first  felt  the  corroding  Anguish  of  Disapoint- 
ment.2  My  Sperits  sunk  and  I found  myself  obliged  to  take  a 

1 Sarah  Bromfield  (1757-1831)  married  Eliphalet  Pearson  in  1786.  She 
was  daughter  of  Henry  and  Margaret  (Fayerweather)  Bromfield. 

2 First  draft:  “Foreseeing  that  if  one  spark  of  British  Spir[i]t  Still  an[i]mated 
the  Councills  of  the  Nation  she  would  resent  the  Outrage  and  insult  offer’d  her 
Laws  and  Commerce,  my  Spir[i]ts  sunk,  etc.” 


1775 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


363 


journey  to  recover  my  health,  which  a constant  Succession  of 
new  Scenes,  with  a change  of  Air  and  Exercise  by  the  blessing 
of  Heaven,  in  a few  months  effected.  Soon  after  my  Return 
from  Philadelphia,  increasing  Buisness,  again  flattered  my 
ardent  Wishes.  But  Alass!  a few  Weeks  soon  cut  short  my 
glimmering  prospect  and  entirely  dissipated  every  remaining 
Hope.  Those  events  which  I long  foresaw  have  taken  place 
and  Civil  War  with  all  its  Horrors,  Now  blasts  every  tender 
Connection,  every  Social  Tie  upon  which  the  happyness  of 
mankind  so  materially  depends.  We  are  now  unhappyly  a 
float  in  one  common  Ruin1  and  have  only  left  us  the  Mortifying 
Remembrance,  of  those  halcyon  days  of  ease  and  peace,  which 
we  now  in  vain,  wish  to  reinjoy.  From  this  State  of  my  mind  you 
will  be  the  better  enabled  to  direct  my  future  destination.  I 
propose  remaining  here  this  Winter  in  hopes  you  will  favour  me 
with  your  early  advice,  as  that  delivered  with  freedom,  will 
greatly  determine  my  Conduct.  I congratulate  you  and  Mrs. 
Copley,  upon  her  safe  arrival  with  my  dear  little  Fri[e]nds  in 
London,  My  hon’d  Mamma  joins  me  in  this  and  in  tender 
Regards  and  good  Wishes  for  you  my  Sister  and  the  little 
Family.  I cant  conclude  without  expressing  my  uneasiness  at 
your  long  Silence,  when  I returned  from  the  southward  near  a 
year  ago  I rec’d  8 Letters  which  had  arrived  during  my  absence; 
since  which  I have  not  had  a line  from  you.  I speak  sincerely 
when  I say  this  long  Silence  hurts  me  much.  Your  affectionate 
Conduct  forbids  my  thinking  it  any  want  of  Regard.  Upon  the 
strictest  Review  I cant  find  the  cause  originateing  in  myself, 
Nor  yet  can  I attribute  it  to  the  accidental  loss  of  Letters,  as  8 
in  six  Months  and  none  in  twelve  hold  no  possable  proportion. 

1 First  draft:  “The  Ambition  of  sofne  and  the  intemperate  and  misguided  Zeal 
of  others  has  most  unhappyly  overwhelm’d  us  in  one  common  Ruin.” 


364 


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I775 


You  will  do  me  a kindness  if  you  would  explain  the  Cause.  I am, 
my  Dear  Friend,  your  most  affectionate  Brother  and  humble 
Sert. 

H. 

Henry  Pelham  to  Copley 

Boston,  Jany.  27,  1776. 

My  dear  Brother, 

One  or  two  Vessels  have  slipped  away  without  my  writeing 
to  you.  sorry  I am  that  in  reassuming  the  Pen  after  so  long  an 
Omission,  I am  called  upon  to  condole  with  you  and  my  dear 
Sister  upon  the  death  of  your  little  Son,  who  died  the  19th 
Instant  of  a consumption  with  which  he  has  been  declining  for 
some  months  past.  As  Mrs.  Bromfield  has  very  lately  given 
my  Sister  an  Account  of  the  Progress  of  his  disorder  till  within 
a few  days  of  his  death  I shall  omitt  it.  Being  confind  with  a 
Cold  I had  not  seen  him  for  several  days,  till  Nurse  sent  to 
aquaint  me  he  was  very  ill  and  that  she  thought  he  could  not 
live,  upon  my  going  down  I found  him  very  near  his  end,  lying 
seemingly  insensable  with  every  symptom  of  an  approaching 
dissolution  which  in  a few  Hours  took  place.  Soul  and  Body 
perhaps  never  parted  with  less  pain  than  those  of  my  amiable 
and  lovely  little  Friend’s.  Not  a groan  or  a Struggle  discom- 
posed his  innocent  and  chearfull  face.  His  remains  were  de- 
posited in  Mr.  Clarke’s  tomb.  The  funeral  was  from  Mr. 
Bromfield’s.  Mr.  Parker1  read  the  burial  Service.  Thus  early 
has  our  little  Friend  paid  the  great  Debt  of  Nature  and  left  the 
Vice  and  Miseries  of  this  life  for  the  unchan[g]able  joys  and 
Happyness  of  blessd  Eternity.  Tho’  Affection  may  call  forth 
a tear  yet  Reason  and  Humanity  forbid  our  mour[n]ing  his 
departure.  When  we  take  a Retrospective  View  of  past  Life 

1 Samuel  Parker,  of  Trinity  Church. 


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Copley  -Pelham  Letters  365 


and  recollect  the  innumerable  troubles  and  Disapointments, 
The  Cares  and  Anxieties  which  have  tamishd  our  happyest 
Hours ; when  we  see  the  distress  and  Danger  in  which  the  great- . 
est  part  of  our  fellow  mortals  are  involved,  and  reflect  upon  the 
various  ills  attendant  upon  the  happyest  in  this  Mortal  State, 
We  cant  view  Death  without  his  Horrors.  But  when  we  turn 
our  eyes  to  the  bright  scenes  which  lie  beyond  the  grave,  the 
unclouded  and  serene  Happyness,  the  virtuous  and  good  there, 
find  Death  instead  of  appearing  the  King  of  Terrors  to  them 
will  assum[e]  the  milder  aspect  of  a Messenger  of  Peace  and 
Comfort. 

I should  do  injustice  was  I not  to  mention  the  great  care  and 
faithfulness  with  which  nurse  discharged  her  Duty  by  the 
infant.  Her  whole  attention  and  time  was  devoted  to  its  com- 
fort and  welfare:  and  she  appeared  to  have  a real  affection  for 
her  charge. 

I have  before  incidentally  mentioned  the  receipt  of  your  very 
agreable  favour  of  March  the  14,  1775,  tho  it  was  above  Nine 
Months  before  it  came  to  hand.  I found  it  in  the  post  Office: 
Somebody  had  Curiosity  eno’  to  open  it.  This  is  a liberty  now 
very  frequently  taken:  However  they  had  manners  eno’  to 
seal  it  again,  which  I thank  them  for:  I mention  this  to  give 
you  a caution  both  as  to  the  subject  on  which  you  write  and 
to  the  manner  in  which  you  send  your  Letters.  You  are  to 
recollect  that  I now  live  under  a military  goverm[e]nt,  where  the 
will  of  the  commander  in  Chief  is  the  Law  and  the  good  of  the 
service  is  the  rule  of  Action:  The  Army  was  perhaps  never 
governed  by  a better  sett  of  general  Officers  than  the  present, 
weither  we  consider  them  as  Soldiers,  as  Men,  or  as  Gentlemen. 
Genel.  Howe’s  and  Lord  Percy’s  Character  as  Soldiers  are 
establishd  by  their  Bravery  and  good  Conduct  since  they  have 


366 


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been  in  America.  Their  generosity  and  Virtues  in  private  Life 
are  universally  known  and  acknowledged : But  I am  sorry  to 
say  the  secrescy  that  attends  military  operations  affords 
innumerable  Opertunities  to  the  Envious,  the  Revengefull,  the 
mischeviously  wicked,  to  blast,  undiscoverd  and  unknown,  the 
Characters  and  Reputation  of  those  who  are  infinitely  better 
Subjects  and  better  Men  than  themselves,  several  Instances 
of  this  kind  have  lately  taken  place.  I have  hitherto  avoided 
every  cause  of  Blame,  on  the  contrary,  am  considered  as  what 
I really  am,  a faithfull  and  loyal  Subject  to  the  most  amiable 
and  Injured  of  soveriegns,  and  am  hon’d  with  the  Civilities 
and  Notice  of  some  of  the  first  Characters  in  America,  yet  I have 
had  and  possably  may  now  have  Enemies  who  would  improve 
even  an  innocent  peice  of  prudential  advice  to  my  disadvantage. 
I could  therefore  wish  you  to  exclude  all  political  Observations 
from  your  Letters,  and  leave  me  to  scrable  thro  this  turbulent 
and  Dangerous  Contest  as  well  as  I can.  For  you[r]  Observa- 
tions, tho  intended  for  my  Benefit,  may  eventually  prove 
detrimental,  the  Events  of  war  being  precarious,  and  it  being 
entirely  uncertain  into  whose  hands  your  letters  may  fall,  both 
sides  now  opening  all  they  meet  with : The  men  of  war  are  the 
safest  Conveyances,  the  transport  and  provision  Vessells  too 
frequently  becoming  prize  to  the  privatiers  which  have  for 
some  time  and  still  Continue  to  infest  these  Seas : I have  been 
more  perticular  and  lengthey  on  this  head,  as  it  will  reach  your 
hands  unexamined,  Sir  Wm.  Pepperell  taking  the  care  of  it:  I 
am  much  grieved  at  the  disagreable  diference  that  subsists 
between  you  and  him,  for  I must  consider  him  as  a very  amiable 
and  Worthy  man.  I wish  something  might  take  place  to  remove 
it,  as  I think  it  founded  intirely  on  Misapprehension  and  Mis- 
take: As  to  News  we  seldom  have  any.  We  still  continue  in  the 


1776 


Copley -Pelham  Letters  367 


same  State  as  when  Mr.  Clarke  left  us.1  Both  sidefs]  strengthing 
their  Works,  and  preventing  the  other  from  receiv’g  supplies. 
Pork  and  peas,  and  little  eno  of  that,  still  continues  to  be  our 
Diet:  a baked  Rice  pudding  without  butter  milk  or  Eggs,  or 
a little  salt  fish  without  Butter,  we  think  luxurious  living. 
Lamenting  our  most  disagreable  Situation  is  the  only  them[e] 
of  our  discourse.  Contriving  ways  and  means  to  gett  a pound 
of  Butter,  a quart  of  peas  to  eat,  or  3 or  4 rotten  boards  the 
ruins  of  some  old  bam  to  burn,  our  only  buisness;  and  the 
recollection  of  our  having  some  friends  at  a Distance  from  this 
scene  of  Anarchy  and  Confusion  almost  our  only  Happyness. 

Our  hond.  Mamma  gives  her  kind  Love  and  Blessing  to  you 
my  Sister  and  the  Lovely  little  ones : she  is  in  great  trouble  on 
the  death  of  her  little  grandson,  desires  sincerely  to  condole 
with  you  on  the  Event,  her  Health  is  nearly  the  same  as  when 
you  saw  her,  rather  injured  by  the  very  poor  living  we  have. 
She,  as  well  as  myself,  are  rendered  very  happy  upon  hearing 
of  you  or  my  Sister,  if  you  knew  what  joy  it  gives  us  I am  cer- 
tain no  opertunity  would  escape  unimproved.  I intended  to 
have  observed  upon  some  parts  of  your  very  improv’g  Letter, 
but  defer  it  till  my  nQ£t,  having  already  I fear  tired  your 
patienc[e],  tho  I have  not  yet  done.  You  desire  me  to  be  very 
perticular.  I will  so,  without  observing  order  or  Method.  My 
next  perhaps  will  be  accompanied  with  a plan  of  Boston  and 
Charlestown  which  I have  been  surveying  with  the  Country  for 
three  or  four  miles  round  this  town  in  this  plan  I lay  down  all 
the  works  which  are  erec[t]ed  to  confine  the  Troops  and  Torrys 
to  the  narrow  limitts  we  now  range  in:  I dont  think  if  I had 
Liberty  I could  find  the  way  to  Cambridge,  tho  I am  so  well 

1 The  Clarke  family  arrived  in  London,  December  24,  1774,  twenty-one 
days  from  Boston. 


368 


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ijj6 


aqua[i]nted  with  the  Road,  not  a Hillock  6 feet  High  but 
What  is  entrench’d,  not  a pass  where  a man  could  go  but  what 
is  defended  by  Cannon;  fences  pulled  down,  houses  removed, 
Woods  grubed  up,  Fields  cut  into  trenches  and  molded  into 
Ramparts,  are  but  a part  of  the  Changes  the  country  has  gone 
thro.  Nor  has  Boston  been  free  from  the  Effects  of  War.  An 
hundred  places  you  might  be  brought  to  and  you  not  know 
where  you  were.  I doubt  if  you  would  know  the  town  at 
all.  Charlestown  I am  sure  you  would  not.  there  not  a Tree, 
not  an  house,  not  even  so  much  as  a stick  of  wood  as  large 
as  yqur  hand  remains.  The  very  Hills  seem  to  have  altered 
ther  form.  In  Boston  almost  all  the  fences:  a great  Num- 
ber of  Wooden  Houses,  perhaps  150,  have  been  pull’d  down 
to  serve  for  fewel.  in  this  ruin  you[r]  Estate  has  escaped, 
no  Injury  being  done  it;  Dr.  Byles’,  Dr.  Cooper’s,  Dr. 
Ma[t]hew’s  Meeting  Houses  turned  into  Barracks.  Dr.  Sew- 
ells’ into  a Riding  School,  Fanuel  Hall  into  a Theatre.  The 
old  North  pulled  down  and  burnt.  Every  rising  fortified,  in 
short  nothing  but  an  actual  sight  of  the  town  can  give  an  Idea 
of  its  situation.  My  Brother  Pelham  and  family  I have  not 
hea[r]d  any  thing  of  for  8 Months,  nor  dont  know  with[e]r  they 
are  dead  or  alive:  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bromfield  are  well.  I there 
frequently]  spend  some  of  my  agreable  Hours:  Betzey  is  well; 
she  and  little  Ned  were  lately  inoculated;  they  are  both  recov- 
ered. he  was  finely  pepered  off  with  it:  In  the  natural  Way  it 
has  been  very  fatal  1 in  3 dying,  by  innoculati[o]n  in  gener[a]l 
it  was  very  favourable.  By  a letter  Mr.  Bromfield  has  lately 
rec’d  from  Harry  I was  made  very  happy  to  find  that  himself 
with  Miss  Nabby1  and  my  very  amiable  and  lovely  fr[i]end  were 
well.  Miss  Sally  spend[s]  the  Winter  at  Andover;  Nabby  at 
1 Abigail  Bromfield  (1753-1791)  married  Daniel  Denison  Rogers. 


1776 


Copley  - Pelham  Letters  369 


Salem.  I have  amused  myself  for  some  hours  past  with  viewing 
4 fine  prints  I bought  yesterday  at  Vendue.  3 of  them  please 
me  very  much,  they  are  the  portraits  of  Lady  Middleton,  half 
length,  after  Sir  P.  Lely;  the  Dutches  of  Ancaster,  whole  length, 
after  Hudson;  and  Lady  Campbell,  the  duke  of  Argyle’s 
Daughter,  whole  leng[th],  after  Ramsay,  all  three  good  impres- 
sion^] from  McArdells  plates.1  There  is  a Report  in  Town  that 
the  Rebels  have  mett  with  a consider’ble  defeat  at  Quebeck, 
that  their  general  Montgomery  with  200  of  his  Men  are  killed, 
and  that  Coll.  Arnold  with  300  more  are  prisoners.  This  report 
seem[s]  generally  believ[e]d.  We  hope  soon  to  hear  of  you[r] 
and  Mr.  Clarkes  arrival  in  E.  be  kind  eno  to  present  My 
Mamas  and  my  respectfull  Complements]  to  him.  my  kindest 
Love  and  good  wi[s]hes  attend  you,  my  Sister,  and  the  young 
family.  I wish  you  to  remember  that  in  Boston  you  have  a 
sincerely  affectionate  Brother,  who  thanks  you  for  all  your 
favours  and  is  your  very  hum.  Sert. 

H.  P. 

Henry  Pelham  to  [Henry  Bromfield,  Jr] 

• Boston,  Feb.  4,  [1776.] 

the2  design  of  this  is  to  invite  you  to  meet  me  at  the  lines  on 
Tuesd[ay]  the  20th.  Some  things  of  a domestick  kind  I wish  a 
Conference]  upon.  The  Friendship  that  Subsists  between  us 
I hope  will  be  a stimulus  in  your  part  as  it  will  be  on  mine  to  let 
nothing  but  unavoidable  accidents  disapo[i]nt  the  pleasure  I 
anticipate,  in  this  Interview.  Should  you  be  prevented  on  that 
day  come  the  Tuesday  Following:  I wish  you  would  come  down 
with  my  Brother  Pelham  I have  wrote  to  him  desiring  it,  but 

1 James  MacArdell  (1729?-!  765). 

2 Erased:  “I  have  the  generals  leave  to  meet.,, 


37° 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1776 


for  fear  my  Letter  should  not  come  to  his  hands  I beg  you  to 
write  him  a line  as  soon  as  you  receive  this  acquainting  him 
with  its  contents,  and  my  earnest  desire  to  see  him. 

Your  Fr[i]ends  are  all  will.  Give  my  kind  Love  to  the 
Ladys  and  believe  me  to  be  with  sincere  affection  my  Dear 
Fr[i]end,  your  very  hum  sert. 

Henry  Pelham. 


Henry  Bromjield , Jr.  to  Henry  Pelham 
My  Dear  Friend, 

Your  Letter  of  27th  Decem’r  I did  not  receive  till  my  Return 
from  Eastward  abo’t  a Fortnight  past:  I believe  I need  not 
assure  you  it  mett  with  a most  cordial  Reception.  The  Sensa- 
tions it  produced  are  not  easy  to  be  described;  let  your  own 
Feelings  declare  them. 

It  serv’d  to  recall  to  my  Imagination  the  pleasing  past;  when 
surrounded  by  the  sweet  Circle  of  Peace,  blest  with  the  Smiles 
of  Lenient  Heaven,  we  enjoy’d  the  Social  Converse  of  Rela- 
tions, Connections  and  Friends,  which  temper’d  the  Business 
of  the  Day,  and  while  it  tended  to  our  mutual  Comfort  and 
Pleasure,  rendered  even  the  Fatigues  of  it  agreable.  How  happy 
then  our  Lot.  None  could  be  more  so.  But,  Alas!  How  chang’d 
is  the  Scene.  The  Reflection  on  our  past  Happiness  serves  but 
to  make  the  Sense  of  our  present  Deprivation  the  more  painful. 
Hapless  Boston  I often  see  at  a Distance,  but  am  at  a Loss  to 
call  a Neighbour  and  take  a friendly  Walk.  How  different  was 
our  Situation  at  our  last  Meeting  from  what  we  can  each  recol- 
lect, on  that  very  Spot,  where,  engag’d  in  friendly  Intercourse, 
our  Feet  have  often  Stray’d. 


1776 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


37 1 


Our  Interview  was  very  short,  and  from  the  Contents  of 
your  last  Letter,  which  came  to  Hand  since,  I have  Reason  to 
think  you  did  not  communicate  all  you  intended.  I shall  apply 
for  Leave  to  accompany  the  next  Flag,  in  Hopes  of  meeting 
my  Father.  Shall  be  happy  to  meet  you  again  before  you 
embark. 

The  Motive  you  are  pleas’d  to  ascribe  to  me  is  really  flatter- 
ing, which  I will  overlook,  considering  it  was  dictated  by  the 
Partiality  of  a Friend.  Mr.  Babcock’s  Acco’t  with  the  Order  on 
him  I left  sometime  ago  with  Mr.  Webb  of  Wethersfield; 
whether  he  has  reed  the  Money  he  has  not  yet  acquainted  me, 
but  I expect  to  hear  from  him  Soon.  The  Letter  you  mention 
as  inclos’d  I have  not  Seen.  The  Post  Master  assures  me  it 
is  forwarded  to  New  Flaven. 

I have  desir’d  my  Father  to  pay  you  £10.12.8  Lawf.  My., 
being  the  Amo’t  of  Sale  of  your  Horse  and  Carriage.  I wish  it 
was  more,  but  is  the  most  I could  obtain.  Letters  from  my 
Uncle  in  London,  as  late  as  2d  Novr.  mention  Mrs.  Copley 
being  still  with  him;  that  her  little  Family  had  pass’d  thro’  the 
small  pox;  and  they  were  all  well.  From  his  Saying  nothing  of 
Mr.  Copley  I conclude  he  was  not  arriv’d  there.  The  Ladies 
are  well  and  beg  their  Compliments.  Please  to  make  mine  to 
such  as  enquire  after  me,  and  should  I be  disapointed  of  the 
Happiness  of  Seeing  my  Father,  present  my  Duty  to  him  and 
my  Mother.  O ! How  moving  is  it  to  be  so  near  and  yet  debarr’d 
so  great  a Pleasure.  Surely  this  Separation  of  Friends  is  to  be 
deplor’d  as  the  greatest  Misery  of  these  most  distressing  Times. 
Favor  them  with  as  much  of  your  Company  as  your  Conven- 
ience will  admit  of:  it  was  always  priz’d,  and  I know  will  be 
particularly  now. 

I trust  a Separation  of  our  Persons  will  never  tend  to  lessen 


37  2 


Copley -Pelham  Letters 


1776 


our  mutual  Regard,  and  assure  you,  that  whatever  my  Situa- 
tion be, 

I am  most  Sincerely  and  affectionately  your’s 

Henry  Bromfield,  Jun. 

Andover,  Feby.  25th,  1776. 

Dr.  Henry  Caner1  to  Copley 

[No  date.] 

Dear  Sir, 

I am  surprized  that  what  Rubens  says  of  Da  Vinci’s  peice 
should  incline  you  to  think  of  that  in  my  Possession  as  incom- 
patible with  his  Description.  I confess  it  has  further  con- 
firm’d me  in  the  opinion  that  it  can  be  no  other  than  the  Pro- 
duction of  that  great  Master.  If  it  be  allow’d  that  Rubens  and 
Webb  are  describing  the  same  Peice,  I do  not  see  how  this  Con- 
clusion can  be  avoided,  since  Rubens’s  description  is  fairly 
reconcileable,  and  Webb’s  is  undeniably  particular.  In  the 
present  Peice  our  Saviour  is  in  the  midst,  as  free  and  unencum- 
ber’d as  the  truth  of  the  history  will  admit;  His  attitude  is 
grave;  his  Arms  quite  free,  one  of  them  easily  extended,  the 
other  hand  lightly  resting  upon  the  Shoulder  of  the  beloved 
Disciple.  The  Apostles  have  suitable  places  assigned  them,  and 
appear  agitated  agreeable  to  the  Occasion. 

I fancy  if  you  and  I were  to  consult  the  Peice  together  once 
more  with  Rubens’s  and  Webb’s  Description  before  us,  we 
should  not  only  concurr  in  Opinion,  but  pronounce  in  favour  of 
this  Peice  as  the  Production  of  da  Vinci.  I am,  Sir,  Your  most 
humble  Servant, 

H.  Caner. 

Friday  10  o’Clock. 

1 Dr.  Caner  was  rector  of  King’s  Chapel,  1747-1776. 


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Copley -Pelham  Letters 


373 


Copley  to  Henry  Pelham 

[No  date.] 

Dear  Harry, 

the  weither  being  very  damp  and  I have  somthing  of  a 
Cold  so  thought  proper  to  stay  at  home  to  Day  should  be 
glad  to  know  how  our  Mamma  is  and  Snap  is.  I am  engaged 
to  paint  Mr.  Taylors1  Face  tomorrow  at  9 o’Clock  therefore 
beg  you  will  set  my  Pallet  in  the  morn’g  accordingly  pray 
give  my  Affectionate  Duty  to  our  Hon’d  Mamma,  and  accept 
my  Love 

J.  S.  Copley. 


Sunday  Even’g. 


1 See  page  77,  supra. 


/ys? 


37+ 


Copley-Pelham  Letters  1783 


Index 


Index 


Abbot,  Samuel,  107. 

Adams,  Abigail,  185  n.;  portrait,  374. 
Adams,  John,  122  n.;  portrait,  374. 

Adams,  Samuel,  107,  210,  264  n.,  288,  344; 

portrait,  294,  308. 

Ainslie,  Thomas,  portrait,  23,  30. 

Algarotti,  Francesco,  County  51. 

Allen,  William,  163,  272,  293,  341. 

Amory,  John,  107. 

Anderson,  James,  on  Free-Masons,  185. 
Andrews,  Benjamin,  portrait,  197. 

Antonio,  177. 

Apthorp,  Charles  Ward,  128. 

Apthorp,  Trecothick  and,  88. 

Apthorp , snow,  30. 

Arms,  coat  of,  89. 

Arnold,  Benedict,  369. 

Association,  Continental  Congress,  274. 
Auchmuty,  Samuel,  166,  198,  292. 

Austen,  Henry,  180. 

Avery,  John,  107. 

• 

Babcock,  Adam,  267,  371;  letter,  281. 
Babcock,  Mrs .,  313. 

Baker, , 13  death,  15,  16. 

Balch, , 125. 

Balston,  Nathaniel,  107. 

Bambridge, , 208. 

Bannister,  John,  146. 

Bannister,  Samuel,  13 1 n. 

Bannister,  Thomas,  13 1,  178,  184. 

Barbados,  38. 

Barber,  Nathaniel,  95. 

Barber,  Wilkes,  95,  98. 

Barnard,  John,  85,  86. 

Barrell,  Joseph,  162. 

Barrett,  John,  107. 

Barrett,  Mrs.,  168  n. 

Barrett,  Miss , 167. 

Barrow, , 114. 

Barry,  Henry,  288  n. 

Bayard, , 126,  129,  134,  292. 

Bernard,  Francis,  Jr.,  96. 


Billings,  Mrs.,  183. 

Bingham,  William,  206. 

Bliss,  Moses,  291. 

Bossley, , 278. 

Boston,  fire,  1760,  23;  smallpox,  29,  276, 
368;  stamp  office,  36;  massacre  plate,  83; 
powder  house,  106;  disturbances,  201,  211, 
218,  232,  267,  288,  290,  312,  344;  besieged, 
324,  365;  map,  350,  367. 

Botetourt,  Baron , 96. 

Bours,  John,  281. 

Bowdoin,  James,  letter,  185. 

Bowen,  Jabez,  281. 

Bowes,  Nicholas,  107. 

Box,  John,  29,  107. 

“Boy  with  the  Squirrel,”  35,  37,  48,  50,  59; 

Reynolds  on,  41;  West,  43. 

Boydell,  John,  82. 

Boylston,  Nicholas,  107,  136,  149. 

Boylston,  Mrs.  Thomas,  213  215* 

Boylston,  Ward  Nicholas,  330. 

Brattle  Street  Church,  Copley’s  designs, 
185,  186. 

Brattle,  Thomas,  107,  186,  359. 

Brimmer,  Herman,  107. 

Brimmer,  Martin,  107. 

Britannia , 6. 

Bromfield,  Abigail,  368. 

Bromfield,  Hannah  (Clarke),  115  n. 
Bromfield,  Henry,  Sr.,  115,  362  n. 
Bromfield,  Henry,  Jr.,  315,  317,  325,  358, 
368,  369;  letter,  370. 

Bromfield,  Margaret  (Fayerweather),  362  n. 
Bromfield,  Sarah,  314,  317,  362,  368. 
Bromfield,  Thomas,  115,  140,  344,  359,  371. 
Bruce,  R.  G.,  34,  35,  37,  44,  48,  49,  68;  let- 
ters, 41,  55,  58. 

Buccleugh,  Duchess  of,  6 n. 

Bulfinch,  Thomas,  149. 

Bunker  Hill,  345. 

Burbeck, , 263. 

Butler, , 183. 

Byers,  James,  204,  205. 


37§ 


Index 


Cahill, , 15. 

Calef,  Robert,  193. 

Callahan,  Captain , 318. 

Campbell,  Lord  William,  178. 

Caner,  Henry,  372. 

Cardross,  Lord,  42. 

Carolina  Matilda,  of  Denmark,  183. 
Carson,  William,  187. 

Carter,  George,  Copley’s  companion  in  Italy, 
227,  252,  253,  287. 

Chardon,  Peter,  93,  334. 

Chardon, , 311. 

Charles  II,  Van  Dyck  and,  171. 
Charlestown,  Mass.,  burning  of,  345;  sur- 
vey, 346,  35 1,  35 6- 
Charlotte,  Queen,  283. 

Charnock,  Mary,  81  n. 

Checkley,  John,  125,  147. 

Christian  VII,  of  Denmark,  183. 

Church,  Benjamin,  107,  202. 

Church,  Mrs.,  13 1. 

Clarke,  Hannah,  115  n. 

Clarke,  Jonathan,  141,  162,  226^227,  237; 

letter,  190;  signature,  193. 

Clarke,  Lucy,  361. 

Clarke,  Mary,  3 1 1 n. 

Clarke,  Richard,  88,  92  n.,  107,  351;  perse- 
cution, 202,  213;  portrait,  279,  287,  315; 
goes  to  England,  367. 

Clarke,  Sarah,  140. 

Clarke,  Susannah  (Farnum),  92  n. 

Clarke,  William,  3 1 1 n. 

Cleverly,  Stephen,  107. 

Compton,  Henry,  20. 

Compton,  John,  20. 

Compton,  Thomas,  18,  20. 

Concert  Hall,  Boston,  350. 

Concord,  affair  of,  314,  319,  322. 

Congress,  Continental,  230,  270,  274,  347. 
Conway,  Lady  Henrietta,  9 13. 

Cooper,  Ann  (Singleton),  198,  217,  272. 
Cooper,  Myles,  portrait,  70,  73,  74,  75,  264, 
308. 

Copley,  Clarke,  birth,  285,  287;  death,  364. 
Copley,  Elizabeth  Clarke,  99,  271. 

Copley,  John  Singleton,  107,  163,  271;  art 
in  America,  26,  65;  desires  mezzotinter, 
31;  loss  of  crayon  drawings,  34;  Fellow 
of  Society  of  Artists,  45,  63;  on  West,  49, 
106,  226;  marriage,  92,  93;  Peale’s  plate, 
100;  New  York  visit,  112,  1 16,  127,  136, 
173,  184;  house  on  Mount  Vernon,  122, 


130,  148,  151,  155,  177;  on  Philadelphia, 
163;  Brattle  Street  Church,  185;  visit  to 
Europe,  198;  in  England, 223 ; on  painting, 
240,  244,  250,  295,  333;  in  France,  242; 
in  Italy,  292;  copies  Correggio,  328;  on 
Boston  troubles,  343;  American  rebellion, 
348. 

Portraits:  J.  Adams,  374;  Ainslie,  23;  An- 
drews, 197;  Babcock,  313;  Barber,  95,  98; 
Carson,  287;  Cooper,  70,  308;  Devereux, 
154,  182;  Flucker,  223;  Gage,  77,  94,  117, 
174,  192,  197;  Gibbes,  187;  Gray,  187; 
Green,  230;  Greenwood,  81,  98,  116,  182; 
Hollis,  75,  79;  Holyoke,  189;  Hooper, 
199,  200,  247;  Hubbard,  27,  213  Hut- 
chinson, 242;  Izard,  295;  Jackson,  35; 
Leigh,  27;  Livius,  60,  61;  McEvers,  141; 
Mackintosh,  284;  H.  Pelham,  35;  Rich- 
ards, 128;  Rogers,  67;  Royall,  284;  Sewall, 
31,  32;  Small,  77;  Taylor,  373;  Traille, 
28;  Webb,  219;  Wentworth,  85,  87,  313; 
Winthrop,  294;  New  York  list,  1 14;  pic- 
ture of  a girl,  53,  56,  59. 

Letters:  31,  32,  35>47>  49>  5°,  63,  64,  65, 66, 
69,  7 1,  76,  97,  105,  1 12,  1 16,  120,  132,  136, 
141,  144,  151,  159,  163,  165,  171,  173,  175, 
179,  211,  213,  217,  223,  225,  234,  238,  242, 
247,  253,  256,  261,  294,  328,  333,  343, 
348,  352,  373; 

Copley,  John  Singleton,  Jr.,  271. 

Copley,  Mary,  271. 

Copley,  Mary  (Singleton),  16  n. 

Copley,  Richard,  16  n. 

Copley,  Susannah  Farnum  (Clarke),  92 
letters,  357;  leaves  America,  314,  318, 
326. 

Cordis,  Joseph,  347  n. 

Cordis,  Rebecca  (Russell),  347  n. 

Coustoux,  the  elder,  249. 

Crayons,  Swiss,  26;  use  of,  51,  67. 

Critics,  art,  58. 

Cunningham,  Nathaniel,  13 1 n. 

Curson, , 268,  292. 

Cushing,  John,  176. 

Cushing,  Thomas,  107. 

Dartmouth,  Lord,  228. 

Dashwood,  Samuel,  107. 

Daveson,  Captain,  37. 

Davis,  Benjamin,  212. 

Davis,  Solomon,  107. 

Davis,  William,  107. 


Index 


379 


Dawson,  Mrs.,  125,  130,  171. 

Dean, , 336. 

DeLancey,  Alice,  330  n. 

DeLancey,  Peter,  330  n. 

Deloraine,  Elizabeth  Scott,  lady,  6 n.,  12. 
Deming,  John,  107. 

Denmark,  scandal  in,  183. 

Denny,  William,  202. 

Derby,  John,  140. 

Devereux,  Mrs.  [see  Mary  Greenwood],  por- 
trait, 105,  154,  182  n. 

Dick,  Sir  John,  205. 

Dickinson,  John,  reported  death,  80. 

Dipper, , 91. 

Dodge,  Johanna,  29. 

Doggett,  Samuel,  107. 

Ducarel,  Andrew  Colter,  22. 

Du  Fresnoy, , 170. 

Dumaresque,  Philip,  5 n .,  77,  107. 

Edes,  Benjamin,  107. 

Eliot,  Andrew,  note,  79. 

Eliot,  Samuel,  107. 

Erving,  John,  107,  238. 

Fairweather,  Thomas,  27. 

Fayerweather,  Margaret,  362  n. 
Fayerweather,  Samuel,  on  Leigh’s  pifture, 
27. 

Feke, , 264  n. 

Fence,  English,  234. 

Fenno’s  pasture,  142. 

Fenwick,  Elizabeth,  6 n. 

Fenwick,  John,  6 n. 

Fernald,  Captain,  61. 

Fisher,  Edward,  309. 

Flagg, , 169,  173. 

Flucker,  Thomas,  36,  107;  portrait,  223. 

Folger, -,  359. 

Fones,  Captain,  6 n. 

Fores,  Captain,  6. 

Franklin,  Benjamin,  104,  294,  309. 

Fraser,  Sir  Alexander,  7 n. 

Fraser,  Carey,  jn. 

Gage,  Margaret  (Kemble),  114,  358;  por- 
trait, 1 1 7,  174,  192,  197. 

Gage,  Thomas,  Viscount,  94,  228,  236,  239. 
Gage,  Thomas,  163,  320,  322,  346,  351;  por- 
trait, 77,  94. 

Gaine, , 264  n. 

Gardiner,  Silvester,  107. 


Germain,  Lord  George,  357  n. 

Gerrish,  Hannah  Cooper,  100  n. 

Gerrish,  Miss,  38. 

Geyer,  Frederick  William,  359. 

Gill,  John,  107. 

Glover,  Nathaniel,  107,  179. 

Goff, , 133,  146. 

Goldthwait,  Major,  112,  133,  138,  176. 

Gooch,  or  Gough, , 156,  160. 

Gore,  John,  107,  146,  173. 

Gough,  or  Gooch, , 156,  160. 

Grant,  Peter,  206,  208. 

Gray,  Thomas,  186,  187. 

Gray,  Mrs.,  187. 

Green,  Edward,  125,  228  n.,  229,  267. 
Green,  John,  96,  162,  165,  171. 

Green,  Joseph,  107,  125. 

Green,  Mary  (Storer),  125,  229  n. 

Greene,  Benjamin,  107. 

Greene,  David,  107. 

Greene,  Elizabeth  Clarke  (Copley),  99. 
Greene,  Gardiner,  99. 

Greene,  Rufus,  107. 

Greenleaf,  Oliver,  107. 

Greenleaf,  Stephen,  107,  299. 

Greenwood,  John,  88  n.,  105,  328;  portrait 
of  Prince,  19;  letter,  81;  picture  agent,  82. 
Greenwood,  Mary  (Charnock),  [Mrs.  Dev- 
ereux?], 81  n.,  98,  1 16. 

Grosvenor,  Richard,  Earl,  237. 

Guy,  Mrs., , 9,  13. 

Hale,  Roger,  35,  48  n .,  55,  69,  191. 

Hall,  Elihu,  233,  268. 

Hallowell,  Benjamin,  36,  350. 

Hamilton,  Gavin,  300,  339,  342. 

Hamilton,  James,  272,  293. 

Hamilton,  Sir  William,  204. 

Hancock,  John,  107,  124,  153,  186,  212,  264, 
267,  344;  letter,  180;  lottery,  184;  dun- 
ning, 232;  portrait,  308. 

Harmonside, , 120  123. 

Hatch,  Nathaniel,  238. 

Hayley,  George,  95. 

Hayman,  Francis,  59. 

Heard, , 265. 

Henderson, , 38,  202. 

Henshaw,  William,  107. 

Higgins,  Elizabeth  (Pelham),  108  n. 

Higgins,  William,  108  n. 

Hillhouse, , 3. 

Hiscox,  Thomas,  264  n. 


3So 


Index 


Hobby, , 91,  93- 

Holliday,  Edward,  107. 

Hollis,  Thomas,  portrait,  75,  79. 

Holyoke,  Edward,  189  n.\  Hollis  portrait, 
75;  portrait,  189. 

Holyoke,  Margaret,  189  n. 

Honeyman,  James,  264  n. 

Hooper,  Robert,  247. 

Hooper,  Sarah  (Woodbridge),  200. 

Hooper,  Stephen,  portrait,  199,  200,  247. 
Hopkins,  Stephen,  275  n. 

Horn,  Count  de,  283  n. 

Howard,  Martin,  36. 

Howe,  Sir  William,  346,  351,  365;  dedication 
of  map,  356. 

Hubbard,  Daniel,  107. 

Hubbard,  Thankfull,  27. 

Hubbard,  Thomas,  107,  213  n.;  death  of 
wife,  213  n.,  215. 

Huges, 357* 

Huline,  Captain,  60  n. 

Humphreys, , 331. 

Hurd,  John,  84,  87. 

Hust, , 1 14. 

Hutchinson,  Elizabeth,  118  n. 

Hutchinson,  Shrimpton,  West  to,  1 18,  154; 
to  Copley,  143. 

Hutchinson,  Thomas,  36,  87,  237,  301,  318; 
portrait,  242. 

Hutchinson,  William,  118  it.,  163. 

Hyde,  Lady  Mary,  9 n. 

Hyde, , 219. 

Independency,  351. 

Ingraham, , 288. 

Inman, , 146. 

Izard,  Alice  (de  Lancey),  330  n. 

Izard,  Ralph,  294,  330,  360;  portrait,  295, 
300,  307. 

Jackson,  Joseph,  35. 

Jacobson, , 36. 

Jamaica,  Morgan’s  visit,  209. 

Jamineau,  Isaac,  206,  209. 

Jarvis,  Dr. , 97  «.,  98,  1 16. 

Jenkins,  Robert,  19. 

John  Galley,  60  «. 

Johnson,  James  (?),  350. 

Johnson,  Samuel,  46  n. 

Johnston,  Thomas,  88  n. 

Johnston,  William,  letter,  88. 

Johnston,  Miss , 114. 


Johonnot,  Francis,  107. 

Johonnot,  Gabriel,  202. 

Jones,  Richard,  180. 

Jones,  Doctor , 278. 

Joy, , mare,  117,  121,  128;  house, 

124,  130,  137,  147,  156,  169;  illness,  149, 
162. 

Joyce, , 218. 

Juliana  Maria,  of  Denmark,  183. 

Kauffmann,  Angelica,  206;  portrait,  269  it., 
277,  282. 

Kauffmann,  Johann  Josef,  283  n. 

Kaye,  Joseph,  22. 

Kelberg, , 60. 

Kemble,  Stephen,  112,  113. 

Kemp,  John  Taber,  114. 

Kennedy, , 58. 

King,  Anthony,  216,  270,  321  n. 

King,  remonstrance  to,  157. 

Kley, , 217. 

Lands,  American,  182. 

Laughton, , 149. 

Laurens,  Henry,  27  n. 

Layman,  339. 

League  and  covenant,  1774,  233. 

Lechmere,  Richard,  123. 

Lee,  Charles,  288,  347. 

Lee,  Joseph,  153,  213,  215,  266,  276,  277, 
280;  persecution  of,  291. 

Leigh,  Sir  Egerton,  27  n. 

Leigh,  Peter,  portrait,  27. 

Leonard,  Thomas,  107. 

Letter,  a lost,  79,  80. 

Lexington,  affair  of,  314,  319,  322,  332. 
Liddle,  Harry,  91. 

Lighthouse,  destruction  of,  346. 

Lime  trees,  126,  157. 

Liotard,  Jean  Etienne,  26. 

Livius,  George,  letter,  60,  61. 

Logan, , 19- 

Long  Island,  descent  on,  345. 

Loring,  Hannah,  312  n. 

Loring,  Joshua,  45,  120,  123. 

Loring,  Nathaniel,  312  n. 

Lottery,  180. 

Lovell, , 13 1. 

Low, , 268. 

Lowrey,  Margaret,  3 n.,  80  n. 

Lowrey,  Richard,  80. 

Lowrey, , 15. 


Index 


381 


Loyal  Association,  46  n. 

Loyd, , 1 17. 

Lucy, , 124,  130. 

Lynde,  Benjamin,  176. 

MacArdell,  James,  369. 

McElwain,  Peggy,  120,  125,  169;  letter  to, 
183. 

McEvers,  Charles,  1 14  n. 

McEvers,  James,  128. 

McEvers,  John,  114  n. 

McIntosh,  Elizabeth,  29  n. 

Mackintosh, , portrait,  284. 

Mallett,  Jonathan,  1 14. 

Mann,  Sir  Horace,  205. 

Martin,  Josiah,  128,  134. 

Mascarene,  Jean  Paul,  189  n. 

Mascarene,  John,  189  n. 

Mascarene,  Margaret  (Holyoke),  189. 
Mather,  Cotton,  print  of,  5. 

Matthews,  Albert,  134  n. 

Maturin,  Gabriel,  114. 

Melville,  Thomas,  43  n. 

Melville,  Mrs .,  43,  57. 

Meriam, , 1 10.  • 

Messenger, , 4,  5,;  position,  7. 

Mezzotints,  prices,  55. 

Miers, , 128,  134. 

Mifflin,  Rebecca  Edgel,  301  n. 

Mifflin,  Samuel,  301  n. 

Mifflin,  Thomas,  205,  224,  272,  293,  347. 
Miller,  William,  35. 

Miller, , 156,  160. 

Miller,  Captain , 84. 

Minerva , 318. 

Mitchell,  J.,  264  n.y  308. 

Mitton,  John,  22. 

Moffat,  John,  107. 

Moffat,  Thomas,  36. 

Moffat, , 34. 

Molineaux,  William,  107,  202,  269. 
Monmouth,  Duchess  of , 7. 

Monmouth,  Duke  of , 7 n. 

Montgomery,  Richard,  369. 

Montresor,  John,  114,  165,  175. 

Montresor, , 180. 

Mordaunt,  Charles,  Earl  of  Peterborough, 
7 n. 

Morgan,  John,  268,  277,  292;  letters,  205- 
209,  282. 

Morris,  Mrs.  Roger,  1 14. 

Mortier,  Abraham,  1 14. 


Mount  Pleasant,  13 1 «. 

Mumford,  Peter,  28,  265,  309. 

Murray,  Samuel,  134. 

Myers, , 58. 

Nelson,  John,  84  n.,  88. 

New  England  Coffee  House,  London,  15. 
Newell,  Joseph,  186. 

New  Haven,  town  meeting,  281. 

Newport,  R.  I.,  slave  trade,  275. 

Newton;  Francis  Milner,  46,  63. 

New  York,  Copley  in,  117;  political  un- 
rest, 274. 

Nichols, , 313. 

Noddle’s  Island,  344. 

Ogilvie,  John,  114. 

Oil,  boiling  of,  89. 

Okey,  Samuel,  264,  293,  308. 

Oliver,  Mary  (Clarke),  311. 

Orange  tree,  Boston,  28. 

Otis,  James,  fee,  122,  126,  129, 133, 138,  150, 
152;  health,  155,  167. 

Paddock,  Adino,  107. 

Paine,  Robert  Treat,  135,  151,  152,  155, 
159,  167,  169,  176. 

Palmer,  Edward,  216. 

Palmer,  Thomas,  190,  192,  202,  332. 

Paris,  description  of,  254. 

Parker, , 89. 

Parker,  Samuel,  358,  364. 

Parsons, , 24. 

Partridge,  Samuel,  107. 

Peale,  Charles  Willson,  Pitt  mezzotint,  100, 
101,  103. 

Pearson,  Eliphalet,  362  n. 

Pearson,  Sarah  (Bromfield),  362  n. 

Pearson,  Captain , 89. 

Peirce,  Sally,  313  n. 

Pelham,  Charles,  4,  7,  12,  17,  38,  216,  221, 
312,  369;  letters,  19,  80, 99,  107;  marriage, 
48;  fears  of  persecution,  316. 

Pelham,  Charles,  Jr.,  81. 

Pelham,  Elizabeth,  100  n.,  108,  no. 

Pelham,  Hannah  Cooper  Gerrish,  100  n. 
Pelham,  Helen,  81. 

Pelham,  Helena,  4,  16,  220,  237  «.,  241; 
gifts,  7,  9,  12,  15;  letters,  9,  12,  14,  16, 
23;  bequest,  20;  portrait,  24. 

Pelham,  Henry,  29,  38,  69;  Bruce,  on,  57; 
Boston  massacre,  83,  84,  86;  in  Philadel- 


382 


Index 


phia,  266;  frame,  280;  miniature  for  ex- 
hibition, 288,  331;  to  go  to  England,  321, 
326,  346,  357;  plan  of  Bunker  Hill,  327; 
survey  of  Charlestown,  346,  351,  356; 
Boston  and  environs,  350,  357  n.,  367. 
Portraits:  Clarke,  279,  287;  Hooper,  200, 
201,  247;  Spring,  109.  Letters:  79,  83,  85, 
86,  96,  no,  1 15,  120,  123,  126,  13 1,  134, 
138,  145,  150,  154,  161,  167,  169,  1 77,  183, 
198,  199,  200,  220,  228,  265,  269,  272,  273, 
277,  278,  284,  287,  288,  289,  293,  310,  313, 
316,  318,  322,  325,  344,  350,  360,  364,  369- 

Pelham,  Lydia  Robinson,  100  n. 

Pelham,  Margaret  (Lowrey),  3 n. 

Pelham,  Martha,  9. 

Pelham,  Mary,  100  n. 

Pelham,  Mary  (Singleton,  Copley),  16  n.,  68, 
216;  will  not  leave  Boston,  346,  349,  357. 

Pelham,  Mary  (Tyler),  4 n.,  48. 

Pelham,  Penelope,  10,  12;  gifts,  14. 

Pelham,  Penelope,  100  n. 

Pelham,  Peter,  Sr.,  letters,  3,  6,  11,  14,  16, 
18;  needs,  18;  will  of,  20;  portrait,  24. 

Pelham,  Peter,  Jr.,  second  marriage,  3; 
signature,  5;  plate  of  Prince,  19;  bequest 
to,  20. 

Pelham,  Peter  [3d],  5,  17,  24;  in  Carolina, 
6,  10,  12,  15,  271;  family,  24. 

Pelham,  Peter,  of  Barbados,  37. 

Pelham,  Peter,  148;  birth,  12 1. 

Pelham,  Thomas,  12,  15,  80,  96,  99. 

Pelham,  Thomas,  Jr.,  99,  100  n. 

Pelham,  William,  Ji;  death,  24. 

Penn,  John,  272,  293. 

Pepperell,  Elizabeth  (Royall),  124,  361. 

Peppered,  Sir  William,  4 n . 

Peppered,  William,  124  n.,  366. 

Percy,  Lord,  320,  323,  365. 

Perkins,  James,  107. 

Perkins,  Dr.,  2 66,  345. 

Pether,  William,  52. 

Philadelphia,  visit  to,  163,  292;  politics,  276. 

Phillips,  Frederick,  114. 

Phillips,  William,  107. 

Phillips, , 19. 

Piazza,  13 1,  134,  136,  H7,  162,  169,  175. 

Pierpont,  Robert,  107. 

Piles,  Roger  de,  170. 

Piranesi,  Giovanni  Battista,  300. 

Pitcher,  Moses,  156. 

Pitt,  William,  Earl  of  Chatham,  Peale’s 
mezzotint,  100,  101,  103. 


Pitts,  James,  186. 

Pope’s  night,  Boston,  201. 

Portraits,  labels  on,  278. 

Powder,  house,  Boston,  petition,  106;  action, 
122,  124,  172. 

Powell,  Edzabeth,  283  n. 

Powell,  J.,  49,  50,  56;  artists’  materials,  37. 
Powell,  Samuel,  208. 

Pratt,  Matthew,  174. 

Pratt,  , 13 1. 

Price,  Ezekiel,  107. 

Prince,  Samuel,  107. 

Prince,  Thomas,  19  n. 

Prout, , 38. 

Putnam,  Israel,  347. 

Putnam,  James,  122,  126,  129,  134,  138,  144, 
150,  159,  167,  169,  176. 

Quincy,  Edmund,  107,  176. 

Quincy,  Josiah,  135,  155,  159,  174. 

Quincy,  Samuel,  135,  176. 

Raphael  Sanzio,  Copley  on,  301. 

Rea,  Daniel,  Jr.,  84. 

Read,  Charles,  293;  letters,  264,  308. 

Redo, , 11,  12. 

Remington,  John,  124  n. 

Revere,  Paul,  107,  265 ; Boston  massacre 
plate,  83. 

Reynolds,  Sir  Joshua,  170  n.,  239;  on  “Boy 
with  a Squirrel,”  41;  picture  of  girl,  53,  56; 
on  Copley,  233,  342;  lectures,  241,  299. 
Rice,  export  permitted,  274. 

Rich,  Sir  Thomas,  239. 

Richards,  Charles  Lloyd,  128. 

Richardson,  James,  107. 

Robertson, , 350. 

Robertson,  Captain,  358. 

Robinson,  John,  36;  assault  on  Otis,  122  n ., 
I35- 

Robinson,  Lydia,  100  n. 

Robson, , 223,  286,  289. 

Rogers,  Abigail  (Bromfield),  368  n. 

Rogers,  Daniel  Denison,  368  n. 

Rogers,  Timothy,  67,  70,  72. 

Rooke,  Harry,  237  n. 

Rowand, , 19. 

Royall,  Elizabeth,  29  n.,  124  n. 

Royall,  Elizabeth  (McIntosh),  29  n. 

Royall,  Isaac,  29;  portrait,  284. 

Royall,  Mary,  29  n .;  portrait,  284. 

Ruggles, , 347. 


Index 


383 


Russell,  Joseph,  96. 

Russell,  Nathaniel,  193,  287. 

Russell,  Rebecca,  347. 

Rutherford, , 203. 

Salisbury,  Samuel,  107. 

Schilling,  G.  W.,  picture,  76. 

Scollay,  John,  42,  57. 

Scott,  Ann,  6 n. 

Scott,  Elizabeth  (Fenwick),  6 n. 

Scott,  Francis,  7 n. 

Scott,  George,  40. 

Scott,  Henry,  Earl  of  Deloraine,  6 n. 

Scott,  Lady  Isabella,  5. 

Scott,  James,  Duke  of  Monmouth,  6 n. 
Scott,  James,  letter,  46. 

Scott,  John,  107. 

Scott,  Captain , 87,  227. 

Seton,  William,  268,  292. 

Sewall,  Jonathan,  352. 

Sewall,  Joseph,  portrait,  31,  32,  52. 

Sewall  Street,  Boston,  238. 

Sheaffe,  William,  178.  * 

Shepherd, * — , 38. 

Sherbrook,  Miles,  114,  128. 

Sherburne,  Joseph,  107,  133. 

Sidley,  Mrs.,  240. 

Sigourney, , 129,  133,  138. 

Simons, , 5,  8,  10. 

Simpson,  Jonathan,  107. 

Singleton,  Ann,  217  n. 

Singleton,  John,  16  «.,  197,  217  n.,  269; 
letter,  215. 

Singleton,  Mary,  16  n.,  217  n. 

Slade,  Denison  Rogers,  217  n. 

Slave  trade,  in  Association,  275. 

Small,  Alexander,  222. 

Small,  John,  letters,  77,  93,  221;  portrait, 
77;  bill,  84. 

Smibert,  John,  304,  340. 

Smith,  Edward  R.,  71  n. 

Smith,  Isaac,  186. 

Smith,  Isaac,  Jr.,  185. 

Smith,  Paschal  N.,  70,  73,  84,  93,  117,  123, 
126,  132,  155,  169. 

Smith,  Mrs.,  282. 

Snap,  142,  147,  256,  312. 

Snelling, , 199. 

Soley,  John,  107. 

Solly,  Edward,  9 n. 

Sons  of  Liberty,  Boston,  201. 

Sparhawk,  William  Pepperell,  124  n. 


Spierring,  Colonel,  26. 

Spriggs, , 158. 

Spring,  Marshall,  323. 

Spring,  Samuel,  portrait,  109. 

Springfield,  Mass.,  mob  outbreak,  291. 
Stamps,  1765,  36,  217. 

Stanbridge,  Henry,  107. 

Startin,  Charles,  140,  145,  177,  224,  266, 
270;  letter,  276. 

Startin,  Sarah  (Clarke),  140 n. ; signature,  277. 
Stauffer,  David  M.,  264  n. 

Stephens, -,  180. 

Stillman, , 205,  278. 

Storer,  Ebenezer,  186. 

Storer,  Mary,  125,  229  n. 

Story,  William,  36. 

Strange,  Sir  Robert,  58. 

Struensee,  Johan  Frederick,  183. 

Stuart,  Gilbert,  receipt,  374. 

Sweetser,  John,  Jr.,  107. 

Syme,  Mrs.,  161. 

Symms,  Captain,  82,  105. 

Taylor,  — — -,  77,  373. 

Tea  importations,  87,  202,  21 1. 

Temple, , 118,  143. 

Thames,  140. 

Thayer,  Ebenezer,  124  n. 

Thomas,  Isaiah,  177  n. 

Thomas,  P.,  247. 

Timmins,  John,  107. 

Tiso,  John,  20. 

Titian,  Copley  on,  164,  305,  333. 
Tradesmen’s  Protest,  Boston,  203. 

Traille,  Peter,  36,  57;  portrait,  28;  letter,  34. 
Trecothick  and  Apthorp,  88. 

Troutbeck,  John,  71. 

Trowbridge, , 133. 

Turk’s  Head  tavern,  45. 

Tyler,  Mary,  4 n.,  48. 

Tyler, , 308. 

Tyng, , 185. 

Van  Dyck,  Anthony,  paintings  by,  164,  170; 

in  England,  171. 

Varnishes,  335,  342. 

Vassall,  William,  107,  324,  359. 

Verplanck, , 175. 

Wakefield, , 16. 

Walcott,  William,  231. 

Walley,  Abiel,  96. 


384 


Index 


Walpole,  Horatio,  170,  277,  278. 

Walter,  William,  166,  285. 

Ward,  Artemas,  347. 

Ward,  Lydia,  345. 

Ward,  Samuel,  275  n. 

Warren,  Joseph,  202,  212,  264  w.,  346. 

Washington,  George,  347. 

Waterman,  Nathaniel,  107. 

Watson,  George,  218. 

Webb,  Daniel,  303. 

Webb,  Joseph,  219,  371. 

Webb,  Samuel  Blachley,  219  «. 

Wentworth,  Daniel,  313  w. 

Wentworth,  Elizabeth,  313  n. 

Wentworth,  John,  84,  87. 

Wentworth,  Joshua,  313. 

Wentworth,  Sally  (Peirce),  313  n. 

West,  Benjamin,  41,  43,  143,  163,  359;  let- 
ters, 43,  52,  72,  116,  118,  194,  195;  “Boy 
with  a Squirrel,”  43;  on  historical  pic- 
tures, 54;  plans  Copley’s  visit,  72,  116, 
190,  194;  Greenwood  on,  82;  on  colors, 
1 18;  on  Copley,  119,  182,  235,  342;  fac- 


simile letter,  195;  on  Italian  painters, 
196;  Copley  on,  226;  London  residence, 
227  n.y  236;  varnish,  336. 

Wheatley,  Phyllis,  96. 

Wheatly, , 235. 

Whitefield,  George,  96. 

Whitmore,  Edward,  burial,  25. 

Wilkes,  John,  98,  157;  letter,  95. 

Williams,  Thomas,  22. 

Winslow,  Hannah  (Loring),  312  n. 

Winslow,  John,  107, 

Winslow,  Joshua,  311,  312. 

Winter, , 156. 

Winthrop,  John,  38,  294,  309. 

Woodbridge,  Sarah,  200  n. 

Woodside,  Captain , 3,  4. 

Woodward, , 172. 

Woollett,  William,  226  n. 

Worthington,  John,  213,  215,  291. 

Wright,  Joseph,  44. 

Wright,  Patience,  44  n. 

Yates,  — , 141. 


Cbe  Ifttoergitie 

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